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Home » Destinations » Asia » Vietnam

Explore the Marble Mountains in Da Nang, Vietnam

Modified: Mar 23, 2025 · Published: Jun 24, 2023 by Kel Lemons |

Five marble and limestone mountains disrupt the flat landscape on the coastal plain near Da Nang. The Marble Mountains are not the most majestic or the largest in Vietnam, but they do have an ethereal air.

For one, they're a strange sight—five tree-covered rocky hills rising in juxtaposition to the flat countryside and nearby South China Sea. They've also been a spiritual haven for centuries, a holy place to wander and appreciate.

Thuy Son, one of the Marble Mountains near Da Nang, Vietnam (photo by Dave Lee)
Thuy Son Mountain (photo by Dave Lee)

Table of Contents

  • Spiritual History
  • Thuy Son Mountain
    • Carved Beauty
    • Tang Chon Cave
    • Van Thong Cave
    • Huyen Khong Cave
    • Am Ph Cave
    • The Oldest Pagoda
    • The Views
  • Additional Notes
  • How To See Marble Mountains

Spiritual History

The Marble Mountains are steeped in spiritual and mystical legend. The Cham people, who lived in central and Southern Vietnam from the 2nd to the 17th century, believed the limestone and marble hills were sacred sites, especially the caves and tunnels running through the porous limestone.

According to Cham legend, a giant dragon gave birth to the mountains. From the sea, the great creature flew over the land, laying her eggs. They hatched into the enchanting mountains we see today. Another version of the tale says the mountains emerged from the eggshell fragments.

Whether you believe they are a gift from Mother Nature or a mythical dragon, the Marble Mountains have always held spiritual significance in Vietnam. 

The Cham worshipped there for centuries, converting many caves into Hindu sanctuaries. After the fall of the Cham empire, the Buddhists took over, adding the temples and pagodas we see today. Some are more than 400 years old.

Buddhist shrine at Ling Ung Pagoda
Buddha statues

The mountains were named in 1825 by Minh Mang, the second emperor of the Nguyen Dynasty.

Named Ngu Hanh Son, the Five Elements Mountains, each peak refers to one of the five essential elements of Eastern philosophy:

  1. Kim (metal) - Metal Mountain
  2. Moc (wood) - Wood Mountain
  3. Hoa (fire) - Fire Mountain
  4. Tho (earth) - Earth Mountain
  5. Thuy (water) - Water Mountain

However, it was during the French Colonial period that French geologists, after learning of their composition, dubbed the peaks the "Marble Mountains."

Red, white, and green marble was once quarried from the mountains, but all mining has ceased to maintain structural integrity. Now, the area is a massive tourist draw. While all the mountains have caves and tunnels, Mount Thuy is the only one open to visitors.

Thuy Son Mountain

Kel and Dave take a selfie in front of the giant seated Buddha statue at Marble Mountains in Vietnam.
Kel and Dave at Water Mountain

Mount Thuy, also called Thuy Son Mountain or the Water Mountain, is a spectacular and surreal place to visit. Buddhist statues and shrines line the inside of the caves; pagodas, gates, and towers stand above ground. 

Breathtaking, sweeping views await at the top of the mountain, and you'll undoubtedly be out of breath to get there. Visitors must endure the 156 stone steps unless they opt for the glass elevator that cuts out about two-thirds of the climbing. 

Elevator and Xa Loi Tower at Water Mountain
Elevator and Xa Loi Tower

Part of our group initially chose the elevator at the base of the mountain but quickly changed their mind after observing the long line. There's also an additional elevator fee, so know what your entrance ticket includes. 

Be prepared to get your Stairmaster workout in. There are several other stairs at other points on the mountain, some in the open areas, others in the depth of the caves. The grotto stairs, which can be slippery, show their wear from the centuries of people trekking over them.

Carved Beauty

Carved, multi-headed marble dragon
Marble dragons

Climbing the steep, winding stairs, we encountered an intricately carved, multi-headed marble dragon near the top. It was the first hint of the elaborate carvings and rich details in the pagodas and caves of the Marble Mountains in Vietnam.

Linh Ung Pagoda (photo by Dave Lee)
Linh Ung Pagoda (photo by Dave Lee)

Above Linh Ung Pagoda, built in 1825, a giant seated Buddha statue anchors a small fish pond, surrounded by more carvings and a beautiful garden.

Nearby, the Lady Buddha pavilion, the seven-story Xa Loi Tower, and the main hall have dragons carved on the roofs, which makes for engaging photos.

Tang Chon Cave

Past the pagoda is the first cave, Tang Chon. Wide expanses of open ceilings and smaller holes send shafts of light through the Tang Chon Cave, creating a natural ambiance unlike any I've experienced.

A woman prays at one of several Buddhist temples in the Marble Mountains, Vietnam.
One of several Buddhist sanctuaries

It's a stunning, ethereal experience, especially at the stone shrine built into a massive alcove, which took on a gauzy, dreamy feel. Various tunnels lead to other nooks with statues and marble sculptures of all sizes. We looked in reverence at one altar, which had a giant carved Buddha statue towering over us.

Standing Buddha in Tang Chon Cave (photo by Dave Lee)
Standing Buddha (photo by Dave Lee)

Natural light casts down on a delightful scene in another grotto: stone sculptures of two seated men playing chess.

Marble sculptures of two men playing chess (photo by Dave Lee)
Marble sculptures of two men playing chess (photo by Dave Lee)

We continued exploring, climbing the worn steps leading us up and around the mountain. In open plateaus, visitors pass through openings in the rock to travel farther on the path. 

Along the way, we observed the steep and massive rocky edifices surrounding us, greenery and tree roots draped over the edges and down the rocks. It was reminiscent of the upside-down floating mountains in Avatar. 

Van Thong Cave

Five other caves are also worth exploring, including Van Thong Cave, which has a tempting but challenging tunnel behind the main cave with its standing Buddha statue. A few of us scurried up the steep steps to find a small grotto with streaming light filtering down to the rocky floor. 

Van Thong Cave entrance at Marble Mountains in Central Vietnam
Van Thong Cave entrance
Kel carefully exits Van Thong Cave
Kel exiting Van Thong Cave

At the back of this cave, a narrow, rugged path takes you to the top. Outside, a rocky path leads to one of the mountain's peaks and sweeping views.

Van Thong is called the Heaven Cave, and this high, challenging climb takes you to the "heaven gate" with a view of Da Nang's beaches and mountains in the distance.

Huyen Khong Cave

Huyen Khong Cave is Mount Thuy's largest and most magnificent cavern. It has several small temples and ample space for walking around. A seated Buddha looks out over the cave from an elevated crevice. Sunlight streams through several openings, creating gorgeous shafts of light.

Am Ph Cave

Am Ph Cave (photo by Dave Lee)
Am Ph Cave (photo by Dave Lee)

Known as the hell cave, Am Ph is accessible from the foot of the mountain, near the elevator. Animal statues guard the entrance to this massive cavern, flanked out front by matching python sculptures. Inside are several statues alluding to the Last Judgement, a religious reference to a soul's journey after death. 

The Oldest Pagoda

Entrance to Tam Thai Pagoda (photo by Dave Lee)
Entrance to Tam Thai Pagoda (photo by Dave Lee)

On the way to the other pagodas, there are several gates to walk through. They offer more examples of stunning ancient architecture among the tropical canopies.

The shade from the banyan trees provides a nice respite from the heat. Thankfully, several vendors have set up along the pathway in the relaxation area, selling water, fresh coconuts, and cold treats. 

Tam Thai Pagoda is the oldest holy site on the mountain, built in the 17th century. Although rebuilt and restored many times, the 400-year-old pagoda retains a majestic feel.

Tam Thai Pagoda (photo by Dave Lee)
Tam Thai Pagoda (photo by Dave Lee)

Like Linh Ung Pagoda, it has a tile roof and marble creatures. A seated, laughing Buddha sculpture greets visitors in the courtyard. The stone gate into the pagoda is a three-door structure, weathered by centuries. It's quite the stately entrance into the sacred landmark. 

The Views

Several spots offer panoramic views of the landscape. To the right of the relaxation area is Dinh Thuong Thai, the highest peak on the mountain.

It'll take some climbing to get there, but you'll have spectacular views of Da Nang's beaches, such as Non Nuoc Beach to the south and the other Marble Mountains in Vietnam.

View of Marble Mountains from Dai Vong Giang on Water Mountain
The other Marble Mountains are visible from atop Thuy Son.

Another viewpoint is Dai Vong Giang, near Tam Thai Pagoda. We climbed the steps to a small gazebo for a closer, better view of the Marble Mountains. Each is a different shape, the rocky limestone covered with trees, jutting up from the flat coastal plains.

Additional Notes

Thuy Son Mountain is a spiritual destination and home for Buddhist monks. Part of the magic of wandering the site is observing the monks pass by, saying prayers, and performing rituals in the Buddhist temples. 

It's also a place of pilgrimage for other visitors. Tourists should remain respectful and not disturb those on spiritual journeys. As a religious site, visitors should dress conservatively. Also, with the number of steps and walking, athletic shoes are the best footwear option.

Kel at  Dai Vong Giang viewpoint (photo by Dave Lee)
Kel at Dai Vong Giang viewpoint (photo by Dave Lee)

The best time to visit is early morning to avoid the largest crowds and afternoon heat. If possible, avoid the rainy season from August to December.

At the foot of the mountain is Non Nuoc village, which has been a fine arts village for more than 300 years and has plenty of marble craftsman shops.

Although the stone is no longer sourced from the Marble Mountains, most of the statues and carvings are from quarries in Vietnam. 

There are also several local people selling hats, purses, and other textiles. We walked past the crowded marketplace to reach the mountain entrance and stumbled onto several more shops on our exit.

Vendors can be a bit pushy, but there are great opportunities for inexpensive (but quality) souvenirs. 

How To See Marble Mountains

Map of Water Mountain
Map of Water Mountain

Mount Thuy is minutes from the center of Da Nang City along the main beach highway, Vo Nguyen Giap. Taxis and Grab (Vietnam's Uber) are easy to hail from the coastal city. You can also opt for bus or motorbike transportation, although you'll have to pay to park a scooter.

Group day trips and private tours are a way to avoid transportation planning and combine a day trip to the Marble Mountains with other destinations in Central Vietnam.

You could spend all day on the mountain, but we recommend a half-day so you can visit other popular tourist destinations, such as the Golden Bridge, My Son Sanctuary, and the ancient town of Hoi An.

The mountain's entrance fee is 40,000 VND, or about $2 (USD). The elevator is an additional cost, and Am Phu Cave can be purchased separately.

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Hi, I'm Dave

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