Marble Mountains Place guide

Also known as Ngu Hang Son, the Marble Mountains consist of five craggy outcrops topped with pagodas, not unlike those in nearby Guilin or Yangshuo in Southern China. Each mountain is named after a natural element – Thuy Son (Water), Moc Son (Wood), Kim Son (Metal or Gold), Tho Son (Earth), and Hoa Son (Fire). The villages at the base around these mountains specialize in marble sculpture, although you might be getting raw materials from China…

Thuy Son is the most famous and largest of the five. Open from 7:00am to 5:00pm, it’s home to natural caves sheltering first Hindu and later Buddhist sanctuaries. There are two paths heading up to the mountain; choose the one closer to the beach at the village end. At the top of the staircase, you’ll reach Ong Chon Gate leading to Linh Ong Pagoda. 

After exploring tunnels and caverns containing Buddhist and Cham carvings, check out Xa Loi Pagoda, a beautiful stone tower overlooking the sea. Follow more stairs to Vong Hai Da viewing point, which yields a panorama of China Beach. 

See several more caves before exiting:

• Van Thong Cave, with a cement Buddha across from it
  
  
• Linh Nham, a tall chimney-shaped cave hosting a small altar
  
  
• Hoa Nghiem, a shallow cave with a Buddha
  
  
• Huyen Khong Cave, a cathedral-like formation lit by an opening to the sky

Get there

• The Marble Mountains are located some 10km south of Da Nang
  
  
• You can take a local bus for VND18,000
  
  
• Rent a car, xe om or motorbike and drive yourself
  
  
• Taxi or ride sharing
  
  
• Full Day or Half Day Tour combined with other famous sights