Marble Mountain Danang is a group of five limestone and marble hills and it can be found within the Ngũ Hành Sơn District. Each one of the Marble Mountain Danang hills has its own name and they are Kim, Thuy, Moc, Hoa, and Tho. In English, those names in the same order mean Metal, Water, Wood, Fire, and Earth.
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While Marble Mountain Vietnam is full of history, those who visit must know the true legend behind these hills. According to the local folklore, a large dragon rose from the water that lapped up onto Non Nuoc Beach and laid an egg in the sand. There were a thousand long days and nights before the egg finally hatched and instead of a dragon, a gorgeous girl climbed out of the shell.
The pieces of the shell that were left behind eventually grew into these five hills and this is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country today.
Marble Mountain has plenty of peaks, tunnels, caves, and temples to see and explore and they are full of the secrets from the war, since troops used them as hiding places. You never know where you will spot bullet holes or make a discovery of a long-forgotten item from decades ago.
It is best to visit this area between the months of June and August, although the views are splendid at any time of the year. However, most people say that you should use caution when visiting during the months of September through November, because it is the stormy season and the steps, and the trails, become quite dangerous.
Most people will choose to climb to the summit of at least one of the hills, so you will want to join them on this quest. However, we do recommend that you check out the views from the top of each of the five hills, because you never know what you will see that is different. After all, one view of My Khe Beach can look extraordinary, but when you check out what seems to be the same view from another hill, you may capture the glimmering sun differently or see something new that wasn’t visible before.
If you do not want to climb up each hill, then at least make the trek along the trail that leads to the Mountain of Water. This is where you will see multiple pagodas that date all the way back to the early 17th century, as well as numerous caves. Once you reach the Tam Quan Gate, you will see amazing views of Mount Kim Son, which is also Metal Mountain. Spectacular views of the coastline can be spotted if you take the time to climb up the Riverview Tower, which happens to be conveniently located right next to the gate.
When you are short on time, you may be tempted to skip exploring the caves. However, Lantern Cave is a must-see, as is Am Phu Cave.
It can take at least four hours to explore all the sights on Marble Mountain, so you should arrive early if you do not want to miss anything. Of course, starting early will also keep you out of the heat of the day, so you won’t be roasted by the time you have made your way back down to the bottom of the hills.
When you are up on Marble Mountain Danang, you can always enjoy a picnic lunch that you bring, but you may want to stop at the Van Nguyet Grotto instead. They have fresh coconut to drink, and it is the perfect destination to stop and relax, while reliving your experiences of the day.
There is a cost to see and explore these hills and the Marble Mountain entrance fee is currently 40,000 VND. Marble Mountain Danang is open daily from seven in the morning until five thirty in the evening, so there is plenty of time for people to see everything that is at this fascinating site. There is also an elevator fee of 15,000 VND, but that is optional and only needs to be paid if you actually use the elevator.
It is also important to note that many Vietnamese children sell souvenirs and guided tours at Marble Mountain. They are not very subtle about their plan to earn some money, so be prepared to listen to them sell you something until you eventually make a purchase or simply give them some money to make them go away.
When you are ready to see this beautiful destination within Danang, all you need to do is travel eight short kilometers from the city itself. Start in the middle of the city and cross over Han River Bridge before following Ngo Quyen Street to Le Van Hien Street. Once you reach there, you simply turn onto Huyen Tran Cong Chua Street and you will have reached your destination.