The Overview of Marble Mountains
Let Hue to Hoi An by Jeeps share you the best travel guide of marble mountains in Da Nang City. They are a cluster of five hills made from limestone and marble in Da Nang. It’s also a well-known pilgrimage site with peaks, caves, tunnels and temples all just waiting to be discovered. Named after the elements metal, wood, water, fire and earth, Marble Mountains exist in a coastal area that is renowned for stone-cutting and sculpture about 9km south of Da Nang.
The caves within the mountains hold many secrets including bullet holes from when troops used to spy on the US soldiers relaxing on My Khe Beach below and buildings standing within the caves and grottoes. There are also Buddhist sanctuaries and places of worship dotted across the mountains which are a much-visited spiritual site. You can even see a special circular cave here. It leads to the summit, where you can enjoy spectacular panoramic views.
The History of Marble Mountains
According to ancient folklore, a dragon emerged from the water on Non Nuoc Beach and laid an egg. A thousand days and a thousand nights followed before the egg hatched, and out stepped a beautiful girl. The fragments of the shell were left on the beach and eventually grew into the five mystical Marble Mountains.
Today, one of the most popular highlights is climbing up the Marble Mountains and enjoying spectacular views across Non Nuoc, also known as My Khe Beach. The Mountain of Water which is home to pagodas dating back to the 17th century and a number of caves is one the most frequented climbs with a steep hike up stone steps to Tam Quan Gate and its superb vistas to Mount Kim Son or Metal Mountain and the coastline from the Riverview Tower located next to the gate. The Riverview Tower dates back to the 18th century and the reign of the Emperor Minh Mang.
Close by is Van Nguyet Grotto which is a nice resting spot where you can grab a fresh coconut to drink. The Lantern Cave is also worth a look, small but deep and filled with lava along with Am Phu Cave which heads down to a very scenic viewpoint.
You should allow up to four hours to explore all of Marble Mountains so its good to start early when it is not so hot and of course wear comfortable shoes, and if you can, bring a torch. Vietnamese children sell souvenirs at Marble Mountains and you can expect to be hassled until you’ve either bought a gift or ‘tipped’ them a few dollars for a ‘guided tour’.
The Best Time to Visit Marble Mountains
Located in the middle of Vietnam, there are two seasons in Da Nang: dry season (from December to August) and rain season (from September to November). Therefore, tourists can visit Marble Mountains at any time of the year.
However, the best time to visit Marble Mountains is summer time when people can combine swimming natural beaches in Da Nang or Hoi An as My Khe Beach and An Bang Beach. If tourists are travelling in summer, not only will they experience the mountain clusters at its finest but also discover Vietnam at its most beautiful time of the year.
During this time, people can go hiking since the weather is not too hot.
Because of typhoon season in Vietnam and rain season in Da Nang, the weather can be unpredictable and the stairs of the mountains can become very slipper as well.
Marble Mountains Map
How to Get to Marble Mountains
Marble Mountains is 11km away from the center of Da Nang. Travellers can easily to go to get here via different transportations: motorbike, bus or taxi or book one of the following tours from Hue to Hoi An by Jeep:
Da Nang City Tour 1 Day –Da Nang City Tour Half Day – Da Nang Shore Excursions