Marble Mountain

Marble Mountains Danang is a group of five limestone mountains in Vietnam. This destination is not only a tourist attraction but also a Buddha worship site.

Marble Mountains is a natural masterpiece bestowed to the land of Da Nang. With the harmonious beauty of the ecological area and the spiritual and cultural life, this destination attracts a lot of visitors from all over the world. Don’t hesitate to read the information below and make plans for a trip to Marble Mountains Danang!

Marble Mountains Danang at a glance

Situated 8 kilometers away from the city center, Marble Mountains is a cluster of five limestone peaks in Vietnam. Located on the route of Hue Imperial Citadel – Marble Mountains – Hoi An Ancient Town – My Son Sanctuary, Marble Mountains Danang has a favorable geographical position which allows tourists to also visit many other famous heritage sites in the Central Region.

The historical story behind the name “Marble Mountains”

According to Cham legend, one day a dragon flew to Non Nuoc beach and laid an egg there. After a long time, the egg hatched and a beautiful girl stepped out of the egg. The egg shell was broken into 5 pieces that became the five magical mountains as we see today.

In 1825, emperor Minh Mang named this mountain complex Marble Mountains, which means “Ngu Hanh Son” in Vietnamese. Each mountain was named after one of the five elements of Eastern philosophy: metal, water, fire, wood and earth. These names remain unchanged until now, and Marble Mountains have become a natural attraction with many majestic peaks, caves and temples.

Must-see attractions in Marble Mountains Danang

Linh Ung Pagoda

Situated on the eastern side of Water Mountain, Linh Ung Pagoda is an unmissable destination when visiting Marble Mountains. With a history of more than 200 years, the pagoda attracts a lot of visitors who worship Buddha or want to ease their mind in the tranquility of a spiritual site.

The most prominent features of Linh Ung Pagoda are the 10-meter tall Buddha statue and Xa Loi Tower. Xa Loi Tower, which was built in 1997, is 28 meters tall, has 7 floors and 200 Buddha, Bodhisattva and Arhat statues inside. It has the largest number of stone statues in Vietnam.

The five Marble Mountains

Visiting Marble Mountains, visitors can explore the breathtaking beauty of the natural landscape, immerse yourself in nature or learn more about the nation’s culture. The five mountains are home to many magnificent caves, tunnels, temples and pagodas waiting to be discovered.

• Moc Son – Wood Mountain: Home to a special human-shaped Co Mu Stone
• Tho Son – Earth Mountain: The lowest and longest mountain
• Hoa Son – Fire Mountain: Home to two other mountains
• Thuy Son – Water Mountain: The biggest and most beautiful mountain
• Kim Son – Metal Mountain: Home to the famous Quan The Am Pagoda

Huyen Khong Cave

Huyen Khong Cave is one of the most magnificent and largest caves in Marble Mountains. Due to its open and unique structure, the sunlight shines from the top of the cave on the Buddha statue, creating a spectacular scenery. There are two small temples outside the cave: Chua Tien temple and Thuong Ngan temple where visitors come to pray for health and wealth.

During the wars, Huyen Khong Cave was used as a secret base for local revolutionary officers to plan military strategies and later became a field hospital to treat injured soldiers. Therefore, the cave is famous for its great historical values.

Am Phu Cave

Being one of the largest caves in the Marble Mountains, Am Phu Cave is the exact opposite of Huyen Khong Cave. “Am Phu” means “Hell”, thus the cave illustrates Buddhist’s hell – the future of wrong-doers after they pass away. According to Buddhism, if people keep doing bad things, after they die, they will go to hell instead of paradise.

Am Phu Cave is filled with dark, humid and scary features which illustrate many punishments that wrong-doers would go through. If you want to challenge your mentality and bravery, you should visit this place once.

Tam Thai Pagoda

Located on Water Mountain and surrounded by poetic nature, Tam Thai Pagoda is an ancient pagoda built in the 17th century under the Le Dynasty. Its entrance is a 3-door gate, and according to Buddhism, the middle gate is only for monks while the left one is for men and the right one is for women.

The pagoda has gone through many renovations throughout its history. Tam Thai Pagoda is recognized as a National Historical – Cultural Heritage Site and has become a spiritual destination for Buddhists.

Visiting Information

Address: 81 Huyen Tran Cong Chua, Hoa Hai, Ngu Hanh Son, Danang

Tickets:

• Water Mountain
  • Entrance fee: 40,000 VND/ Adult; 10,000 VND/ students, free for kids < 6 yrs.
  • Elevator usage fee: 15,000 VND/pax (one-way)
  • Guiding tour: 50,000 VND/pack.
• Am Phu Cave: 20,000 VND/ Adult, 7,000 VND/ students, free for kids < 6 yrs.