Marble Mountains – Danang, Vietnam

What Is It: Central Vietnam has emerged as the new gateway for visitors to the country.  The 15 miles of waterfront between the port city of Danang and the riverside town of Hoi An have developed into a destination which blends modern resorts and Vietnamese culture with French colonial traditions.  One unique feature of this region is the five limestone peaks known as the Marble Mountains which rise majestically to the height of a New York skyscraper from the land southwest of the city. The mountains are sometimes referred to as the “five elements mountains” since they are named after the five elements of water, earth, fire, wood, and metal.  While not particularly attractive from a distance, they are covered in foliage and contain numerous caves and caverns. 

The Marble Mountains have served many purposes over the years. Originally used for centuries by the Hindu people of the Kingdom of Champa as a holy site, they were eventually taken over by Buddhist  practitioners and monks who built stunning pagodas, shrines and caves throughout the interior beginning in the 17th century.  The main pagoda in Thuy Son mountain can be accessed by climbing a long staircase or using a glass elevator for part of the route.  Once inside, there are a variety of gardens and caves from which one can view carvings about the life of Buddha or contemplate the beauty of nature.  The largest cave in the middle of the mountain is like a small auditorium and it has openings to the sky and the stars high above the cave floor.

The mountain has also served as a source of raw material and inspiration for local stone carvers who have quarried out marble and limestone from the mountains for years. Today, their descendants and local businesses offer numerous statues and jewelry for sale at the foot of the mountain in the village surrounding the parking lots below.   Another feature of the mountains is their excellent view of the region.  Some locations provide views of the beaches and docks at Danang, so the Viet Cong used the area for spying and military operations during the Vietnam War.

Interesting Facts:  The Marble Mountains are one of the top attractions in Vietnam for foreign and domestic travelers. They also remain a popular location for religious pilgrimages.  Outdoor enthusiasts can also find rock climbing excursions to several of the mountains.

Guides: A guide is not essential to visit the Marble Mountains since it can be readily reached by taxi or visited on a group excursion from any hotel in the city. However, the interior layout of the mountain can be confusing, and the local touts can be aggressive, so a guide can provide valuable information to bring the features of the shrines and its history to life.  Man Nguyen Private Vietnam Tours from Hoi An is a professional operation with guides who know the area and provide a friendly tour of the area to your selected sites.

When to Go:  The weather is generally excellent between January and August but quite dry and hot. Rainfall increases from September to November and the Marble Mountains can be slippery and damp during those months or closed due to monsoons.

Where to Stay: There are numerous international hotels along the coast of Danang as well as some colonial style small villas in Hoi An which can serve as a base for excursions. Vietnam has modernized quickly, and the quality of most facilities is quite high. When Vietnam was honored to host the APEC meeting of world leaders in 2017, the InterContinental Danang Resort served as the venue.

Cost: The cost of visiting the mountains including use of the elevator is less than $5 per person.