Don’t bother spending money on a package tour; you can easily visit the Marble Mountains on your own. Visiting Da Nang’s Marble Mountains on your own is easy, cheap, and a lot more fun than traveling with a big tour group.
Marble Mountains overview
The Marble Mountains are one of central Vietnam’s most stunning and unique sights to see. The five mountains – made from marble as their name suggests – rise dramatically out of a flat plain just outside of Da Nang, looking almost impossibly out of place. The five natural Marble Mountains are each named for one of the five natural elements of Chinese feng shui: Fire, Plant, Soil, Water, and Metal, and are an important sacred site to Vietnamese Buddhists.
Best time to visit
Blessed by nature, the Marble Mountains are wonderful to visit at any time of the year. The most beautiful season to experience these tropical coastal mountains, though, is summer (June – August). But be aware that you must climb many stairs, so breathable clothing and water is a must. You may want to avoid the stormy season (usually from September – November end) as the weather is more unpredictable and the stairs become dangerous when wet. You should make a day of visiting the Marble Mountains and then continue to Hoi An, to enjoy the beautiful beaches and fresh seafood for lunch. Wake up early and head to the Marble Mountains when there are few visitors and the air is still cool.
How to get to the Marble Mountains without a package tour
There are a few ways that a tourist visiting Da Nang can get to the Marble Mountains, which are about 20 minutes outside of the city, without taking a package tour. Here are some options:
- Take the public bus – Bus #1 runs from Da Nang bus station to Hoi An several times throughout the day, making a stop near the Marble Mountains.
- If you are a fan of wanderlust, you should definitely choose a motorbike. Discounts are offered when booking MOTORBIKE RENTAL ONLINE
- Hire a car – you can book a private driver service. This is the quickest way, and will take you directly to the mountain. On your way out, there will be plenty of drivers waiting to take you back to the city.
How to get your ticket to Marble Mountains online?
The entrance and ticket office is located at Thuy Son, the Water Mountain, the only mountain that is climbable. When you purchase a ticket (40,000d) , you have the option of buying an additional ticket to take the elevator up the mountain (20,000d) and a map (15,000d). Skip the elevator. Although the stairs up the mountain can be a bit steep, taking the elevator will cause you to miss some of the shrines and viewpoints along the way up. The map is worth every dong though. More than just a map, the thick booklet comes packed with information and history, as well as several postcards.
If you plan to get it in advance, you can find the Marble Mountains admission tickets sold in a combo. To visit either with Non Nuoc Stone Carving Memory Museum, or Am Phu Cave, or both, plus or minus the elevator taking you up on the mountain (which ¡s optional depending on your physical condition). You can also add some light food or maybe a round trip transport. And even a night cruise on Han River. Plus, it comes with a guide.
What to see at the Marble Mountains
For generations the mountains were mined by local marble carvers who reside in the craftsman’s villages just below the hills. Nowadays, craftsmen mostly import their marble, and the five mountains have become something of a sacred site. Upon arriving, ignore all of the souvenir shops – you can buy anything much cheaper elsewhere – and head directly to the ticket office.
The mountain is dotted with hundreds of caves, shrines, statues, and pagodas. As you make your way up the first set of steps to the first landing, you’ll soon comet the first small Buddhist temple. Every sight and stop along the trail up the mountain is unique and well-worth a visit.
Marble Mountains and Da Nang during the Vietnam War
The Marble Mountains played an important role during the Vietnam War as well. Although located just adjacent to the Marble Mountains Air Facility, a United States Marine Corps Air Base, the mountains themselves were the location of a secret Vietcong field hospital. The Vietcong apparently thought so little of the US military that they didn’t even question setting up their secret base on the grounds of existing an American base. The US military, unfamiliar with jungle warfare and unaccustomed to the guerrilla tactics of the Vietcong, remained ignorant of the nearby base throughout the war.
Now, both bases are long gone, and the mountain is no longer a place of war, but a place of peace. It’s been re-dedicated as a sacred site to reclaim it from its violent past. Dozens of sacred Buddhist grottoes dot the mountainside, along with temples and statues of Buddha, Guanyin, Budai, and other Buddhist figures carved directly into the stone.
As you climb higher up the steep and sometimes slippery marble steps, occasionally the thick jungle surrounding the path will clear, giving an unparalleled view of the breathtaking My Khe Beach nearby. If you are feeling really adventurous, head to the highest point on the mountain for an incredible view of the sea and surrounding landscape.
Cave temples
Some of the most beautiful and interesting sites on the Marble Mountains are the dozens of small cave temples and shrines that have been carved right into the side of the natural rock of the mountain.
The mountain’s biggest cavern is home to several small shrines. The air there is cool and damp, and thick with the fragrant smell of incense.
This cave is the spot on the mountain that feels the most sacred. While there are always plenty of tourists, there are many more local Buddhists who visit the cave to light incense and pray. It’s definitely a popular tourist site, but it’s still an important place for Vietnamese Buddhists as well.
If you get hungry or thirsty, there are a few vendors who have set up shop along the path on the mountain, but be warned. The vendors have to carry all of their wares up the mountain on foot, making them far more expensive than they would be back in Da Nang. It’s advised to bring your own bottle of water with you.
Pagodas and shrines
One of the best parts of touring Marble Mountains is seeing the striking pagodas that claim this elevated perch. Linh Ung Pagoda announces itself with an amazingly detailed archway facing the sweep of Non Nuoc Beach. Stop here for photos before wandering around the courtyard to admire the small lotus ponds, bonsai plants and tilework of the main structure.
Nguyen Emperor Gia Long first ordered the pagoda built in 1825, and it bears many of the same motifs found in the UNESCO-listed tombs in Hue. A short walk away you’ll reach Xa Loi Tower. This 28-metre structure houses 200 statues of Buddha, and offers breathtaking views of the landscape below.
Across on Water Mountain, you’ll find Tam Thai Pagoda. This tidy pagoda, dedicated to the bodhisattva Phat Di Lac, has its own charming courtyard, and was rebuilt by the Nguyen Dynasty King Ming Mang more than 400 years ago, after falling into disrepair. Tam Thai is at its most serene in the early morning hours — don’t miss it!
Is it worth a day trip to Marble Mountains from Da Nang?
Yes, it is definitely worth. lt is known as the place with most statues in Vietnam. All immersed lush vegetation. Cut almost to perfection from solid stone, the steep stairs going up to the first pagoda on the Water Mountain, and beyond, are not an easy hike. However, with each step you rise a bit more above the breath-taking horizon.
However, if you want some well informed travel companions, there are plenty of organized day or half-day tours to take you out of Da Nang. Some of the best rated are mention below. These tours focus on one or combine multiple destinations from the Da Nang day trips trips.
- Private Customized Tour Da Nang full-day: Take advantage of this 8-hour private tour in Danang with your own English-speaker guide.
- Marble Mountains and Son Tra Peninsula: with this tour, you will visit the Marble Mountains to see the pagoda and hidden caves and grottoes. Enjoy views of Vietnam’s coast and visit the Son Tra Peninsula as well.
- Da Nang and My Son Sanctuary: This is an excellent tour to catch the two hidden gems in Vietnam in a day tour. You will embark on a full-day adventure to My Son Sanctuary and Da Nang’s Marble Mountains. Admire the Champa Kingdom ruins, explore cave temples, and visit Am Phu Cave and the Linh Ung Pagoda.
Budget self-guided visit to the Marble Mountains
- Don’t bother taking a tour – you can see more, save money, and visit at your own pace
- Do take the bus.
- Don’t buy any souvenirs – just pass on buy the souvenir stalls. Everything is very expensive here
- Don’t take the elevator – it’s not a very far climb as long as you are moderately fit, and you’ll miss some of the sights if you take the lift. Besides, that’s cheating
- Do spend a little extra to get the map. It’s well worth the extra price and comes with lots of post cards
- Do bring your own water – water on the mountain costs 5x what it costs at the local convenience store in Da Nang
- Do dress appropriately – there are many shrines and temples on the mountain, and proper dress is required
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