The Marble Mountains, a majestic group of limestones located in-between beach city Da Nang and UNESCO Heritage site Hoi An, Vietnam. When visiting any of the cities, making in a trip to the Marble Mountains is a must. Escape the bustling cities with this piece of nature, where peace and calm is number one. In this blog we will talk about our own experiences, what to expect and tips and tricks. So if you are ready to climb the mountains, let’s go!
What are the Marble Mountains?
The Marble Mountains are a group of five limestones. The five limestones are named after the elements: earth, water, fire, metal and wood. What makes the Marble Mountains so amazing is that all the five hills have cave and tunnel systems in them. Some of which are open for visitors. Besides the caves you will also find multiple Buddhist sanctuaries. Making it not only a must visit for tourist but also a sacred place for others. Something important to keep in mind. There is currently only one of the mountains open for visitors. This is Mount Thủy (water), luckily also the most beautiful mountain.
Why you should visit the Marble Mountains.
The Marble Mountains are a cultural adventure going further than just some amazing nature. What is personally really appreciated is how well the surroundings are maintained. What is logical as the temples are still in use. The Marble Mountains show you a real piece of Vietnam. During your visit you will be able to take a look inside the caves, see amazing nature, viewpoints but also learn more about the Cham Legend.
Things to Do at the Marble Mountains.
The Marble Mountains are open for everyone from 07:00 AM until 17:00. This all due that it get’s dark pretty early. You can choose if you want to visit by yourself or that you prefer to join a guided tour. Both has it’s own appeal. Either way there is more than enough to explore at the Marble Mountains, some things not to miss are:
- Hiking: Let’s start with an activity that is not only fun but also a must when you are visiting the mountains. You are able to explore different routes and stairs, some that leave you to some amazing views over the whole city.
- Caving: A must thing to do is to go inside one of the caves, or all of them ofcourse! Inside the caves you will also find statues and other cultural significances.
- Marble carving workshops: Around the Marble Mountains you will be able to join a carving workshop. Making your own souvenir while learning more about the mountains is amazing!
The Marble Mountains also has some must sees that will also be shown on the maps located at multiple places. A few spots that you definitely cannot miss are:
- Linh Ung Pagoda
- Huyen Khong Cave
- Am Phu Cave
- Tam Thai Pagoda
Practical Information for the Marble Mountains.
The Marble Mountains are located around 9 km from the city center of Da Nang. Making it easy to visit with a motor bike, car or even a taxi. The same for Hoi An, that is located on the other side.
During your visit it is important to keep the weather conditions in mind. The hikes on the mountains can be quite heavy, mix that up with a lot of sun and heat and you will be having a hard time. Consider going as early as possible to enjoy the mountains with the coolest weather. This also highlights another necessity, sunscreen.
The hikes can be quite steep and hard so it’s important to wear good and steady shoes to prevent any accidents. The cave systems can be quite slippery due to dripping water. Visiting the Marble Mountains that is not a good fit for everyone. Consider your physique and see if you feel comfortable.
The Marble Mountains are a sacred place. Although there are no specific things mandatory, we would like to advise you to keep this in mind when picking an outfit.
Tickets for the Marble Mountains can be bought at the ticket office. Prices are low and affordable going for 40.000 Vietnamese Dong, being around $1,60. There is also an elevator located for those who want to skip the first stairs. Tickets for the elevator can also be bought at the ticket office for 15.000 Vietnamese Dong. Keep in mind that after the elevator you will still need to climb stairs, as it is just for the first part.
Surrounding the hotspot are multiple hotels and restaurants located. Making it easy to enjoy some tasty local Vietnamese food. Important to also bring your own water and snacks although those can also be bought while visiting the mountains.
Personal Experience at the Marble Mountains.
Earlier in July we had the pleasure to visit the Marble Mountains. Personally I’m a big lover of all things regarding history, legends and special places like this. It was no wonder that the Marble Mountains then also were on top of my list to visit. We arrived around 10:00 AM, a bit later than what we wanted but we were all good. We took a Grab from Da Nang, super easy!
What we personally really loved it that there is just so much to see and explore. At one moment we just weren’t sure if we saw everything or not. Luckily there are multiple maps located at the site.
A must visit is ofcourse going into the caves and doing some climbing. Although a bit scary, I wouldn’t want to miss it! The Marble Mountains are definitely a must visit! If you want to see more of the Marble Mountains, check out our Youtube channel as we have also filmed our whole adventure!
1 thought on “Your Ultimate Guide to the Marble Mountains”
“Well explained, made the topic much easier to understand!”