Last Updated on August 14, 2019 by Jon Algie
When I hear the word “mountains” I instantly conjure images of hikers dressed in North Face Gear, lung shredding high altitude climbs and grand, panoramic views of soaring peaks. You won’t find any of that at the Marble Mountains, a small group of limestone hills located between Hoi An and Da Nang. There will be no awards won or respect gained from your mountaineering friends for scaling these peaks, but you will see some cool shrines, temples, pagodas and caves, as well as some beautiful views over beaches and countryside. Thinking of tackling the short day trip from Hoi An to the Marble Mountains? Keep reading for all the information and inspiration you’ll need.
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The Marble Mountains
“When you go to the mountains, you see them and you admire them. In a sense, they give you a challenge, and you try to express that challenge by climbing them” – Sir Edmund Hillary
Hmm, that quote isn’t all that relevant. I like it though, so it stays.
We hopped off the bus and were immediately confused about where we should head. We eventually found the path and began our hike below the Marble Mountains, passing a pagoda surrounded by a lush sea of trees. We arrived early (and at a different entry point to most people) so it was very quiet. The five Marble Mountains are named after natural elements (water, wood, fire, metal, earth). Our ascent of Thuy Son (water mountain), took us past shrines, statues and temples and through a couple of old looking gates. Once at the top, we were bombarded with signs for caves and viewpoints, so we spent the next hour or two exploring.
Caves and Shrines
Some of the most interesting things to see in the Marble Mountains are the caves. These caves are full of shrines and spiritual images. Most of them are Buddhist but apparently there are some Hindu remnants scattered around as well. We had finally run into the inevitable stampede of tour bus passengers by this point, but even they didn’t detract from the surreal nature of these caves. Most of the caves are easy to get in and out of but one of them does require a certain degree of climbing, which is tough in slippery conditions.
Where to Stay in Hoi An: Allegro Hoi An (luxury) | Hoi An Historic Hotel | Thanh Van 1 Hotel
Viewpoints
This is what we really came for. I had seen the Marble Mountains several times from the window of a bus and always thought the views from above would be cool. I wasn’t disappointed. There are several viewpoints overlooking the countryside and down the coast over China Beach and on towards the Hai Van Pass. It’s an easy enough walk and is well signed – the heat will be a challenge though!
More Caves, Shrines and Temples
After exploring the caves and viewpoints on Thuy Son, we headed down the hill towards the main entrance. We passed a lavish temple with pavilions and ponds as well as a couple of Buddha statues hiding in caves. By this point the path was packed full of tourists. I didn’t know this place would get so busy but it is one of the top attractions in the area and is included in most tours. Like most popular places, it’s better to get there early.
READ MORE: Backpacking in Vietnam: Costs, Tips and Places to See
Upon reaching the bottom of Thuy Son we realised we hadn’t been asked to buy a ticket. We glanced at the ticket counter and the poor souls in the queue, smug in the knowledge that we’d beaten the system. But then, just as we were about to walk back towards the bus stop, we saw the entrance to another cave. We tried to walk straight in but were told to go and buy a ticket. It was worth it though (it only cost around a dollar) – the cave was massive and there was some cool (some may say kitschy) lighting effects. There are also some violent and disturbing Buddhist models on display, which reminded me a lot of the bizarre Haw Par Villa in Singapore.
Trying to climb the other mountains
I hadn’t seen anyone climbing the surrounding mountains, but that didn’t stop us from trying. We walked around a few streets and couldn’t find any other entrances. It turns out Thuy Son is the only one accessible to tourists — research has never been my strong point!
Getting to the Marble Mountains
It couldn’t be easier. Make your way to the bus station in Hoi An and hop on a bus headed to Da Nang. It takes around 20 minutes and you’ll see the mountains out the window. The entrance is a short distance from the road. You could do this day trip in a few hours if you were in a rush. We left at around 8 am and arrived back at about 1 pm, just in time for a delicious banh mi lunch. Also, don’t let the word “mountains” put you off from visiting if you’re not up for a walk — there’s actually a lift that you can take to the top. Prefer to take a tour? Check out the options on Get Your Guide.
READ MORE: Check out my two week Vietnam itinerary!
We really enjoyed our day trip (technically a half-day trip) to the Marble Mountains. The views alone were worth it, but the caves, shrines, pagodas and statues all combined to make this a unique place to visit. This is just one of many things to do in and Hoi An and I recommend spending as much time as you can there. I rate it as the nicest town (or small city) in Southeast Asia – check out my post above for more information.
Are you planning a trip to Hoi An? Have I convinced you to visit the Marble Mountains? Let me know in the comments below!
Jon Algie
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Beautiful images and amazing tips! I recommended this journey to my friends and one cited a really good question – what do you do in the evenings there? I’ve ready so many posts on marble mountains day trip , but no person seems to ever point out what they do once night comes. Any tip will be appreciated.
I actually have no idea, I’m sure it shuts down though. Hoi An is great at night time though!
Do we need to pay to go in the Marble Mountains?How much is it?
Yip, can’t remember exactly how much but it was the equivalent of a dollar or two so not a big deal.
Do you recommend going it in your own.?They advertise so many tours there.
Hey Deana, yeah it’s pretty easy to do on your own. It depends how much time you have though — if you only have a day or two you might want to combine some things into a tour. Or just hire a car / driver.
Hi,
Thanks for the elaborate details on marble mountains.
Would you recommend we make a trip to these mountains with a 2 year old, directly from danang airport upon arrival mid-morning? We are then heading to Hoi-An, for a 3 night stay.
Alternatively, we have plans to visit Bana Hills too one of the days. Not sure if we directly go to bana hills or marble mountains from the airport.
Thank you in advance.
Hi Shreya, it depends on where you’re coming from. I’m guessing if you have a long flight you’ll want to get straight to your hotel! Otherwise, it should be fine — you’ll have to find a driver I guess so you can leave your luggage while you look around? If you’re hiring a driver you could probably just do Bana Hills and Marble Mountains in one day from Hoi An. Let me know how it goes!
I just wanted to know how the mountain was made. My guessing is that it was made from volcanic eruption. And the limestones have melted to left big holes.
I hope someone comments on this.
Good question — not sure if it’s a volcanic area or not but hopefully someone can tell us!
Hi, this sounds great much prefer doing our own thing o the tourist hoards. What stop is it on the bus route? What direction do you go when you get off the bus? Do you go back to the same bus stop to return to the city? thanks
Hey Bex, unless it has changed it’s the bus between Hoi An and Da Nang (very popular route). I did it a while ago so the memory isn’t great but I’m pretty sure it’s obvious where to get off and then where to go. The landscape is very flat apart from these mountains and you’ll see them from the bus window. If in doubt ask the driver or use Google maps and find where to get off — should be easy though!