Marble Mountains, Da Nang: caves, tickets, how to get there
Entry to the Marble Mountains costs 40,000 VND (~$1.60). For that you get temple caves lit by shafts of sunlight through the rock, Buddhist pagodas, a viewpoint over all of Da Nang, and war history in every stone. It is the city's best-value top attraction.
The complex sits 8 km from central Da Nang, right on the shoreline. When you are done, it is a five-minute scooter ride to Non Nước beach, one of the best in the city. Budget 2–3 hours for the mountains and another hour for the beach — the perfect half-day.
Five hills, five elements
- Entrance & ticket office (Ngũ Hành Sơn): Entry 40,000 VND (~$1.60) — Elevator 15,000 VND (~$0.60) — 07:00–17:30
- Huyen Khong cave (Huyền Không): Light beams 9:00–11:00 — Free with the main ticket
- Am Phu cave (Âm Phủ): The hell cave — Separate ticket 20,000 VND (~$0.80)
- Tang Chon cave (Tàng Chơn): Quiet cave — Stalactites, few tourists
- Viewpoint (Vọng Hải Đài): Panorama over the sea, the city and Non Nuoc beach
- Linh Ung pagoda (Linh Ứng): Buddhist temple on top of Thuy Son
- Stone-carving village (Làng Đá Non Nước): Workshops — From 200,000 VND (~$8) per figurine
The Marble Mountains are five limestone hills, each named after one of the elements: Water (Thuỷ Sơn), Wood (Mộc Sơn), Fire (Hoả Sơn), Metal (Kim Sơn) and Earth (Thổ Sơn). Of the five, only Thuy Son — the tallest and most striking — is fully open to visitors.
| Detail | Value |
|---|---|
| Address | 81 Huyền Trân Công Chúa, Ngũ Hành Sơn, Da Nang |
| Hours | 07:00–17:30 (last cave entry 17:00) |
| Entry | 40,000 VND (~$1.60) |
| Elevator | 15,000 VND (~$0.60) per ride |
| Am Phu (separate) | 20,000 VND (~$0.80) |
| Time needed | 2–3 hours |
156 stone steps lead to the top of Thuy Son — or take the elevator for 15,000 VND. The steps are steep and slick with humidity, but the climb pays off. Up top are caves, pagodas and views you will never see from inside a lift cabin.
Huyen Khong cave — light through the rock
Huyền Không is the jewel of the whole complex. A huge chamber with a high vault, filled with altars, Buddha statues and the scent of incense. But the real draw is the light. Sunbeams break through openings in the ceiling and land on the altars, creating an almost cinematic scene.
A bit of history: during the Vietnam War, the cave sheltered guerrillas and held a field hospital. The holes in the ceiling are scars from American bombing. The very bombs meant to destroy the hideout carved the light wells that turned the cave into one of the most beautiful spots in Vietnam.
💬 "The light beams in Huyen Khong cave are the best thing I saw in Da Nang. Come around 10 a.m. and don't forget to look up." — traveller review, Tripadvisor, 2025
Am Phu cave — the Buddhist underworld
Âm Phủ means "the hell cave." It has its own entrance at the foot of the hill and a separate ticket, 20,000 VND (~$0.80). Inside are sculptural scenes of the Buddhist underworld: demons, cauldrons, sinners on the different levels of karmic judgement.
The passages are narrow and the stairs steep — in places you have to stoop. The route leads from "hell" below up to "heaven" above, a symbolic path from darkness to light. At the exit there is a lookout over the coast.
It takes 20–30 minutes. Worth the $0.80, if only for the contrast with sunlit Huyen Khong.
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Telegram managerTang Chon cave and the quiet corners
Tàng Chơn is a lesser-known cave on the eastern slope of Thuy Son. Stalactites, Buddhist statues, low light. There are ten times fewer tourists here than in Huyen Khong. If you want a moment of quiet, this is where to find it.
Thuy Son has several more small grottoes and niches with altars. They are not marked on the tourist maps, but you will stumble onto them on an unhurried wander along the paths. Some are tucked around the bends of the stairways — keep looking around.
Viewpoints and pagodas
The Vọng Hải Đài viewpoint
A platform on the eastern edge of the summit. From here you see it all: the Da Nang coast, Non Nuoc beach, the South China Sea and the city skyline on the horizon. On a clear day you can make out the Son Tra peninsula to the north. The morning light is soft; by midday it is harsh, but the view holds up.
The pagodas
Thuy Son holds several Buddhist and Hindu temples. The main one is the Linh Ứng pagoda, with a white Buddha statue and well-kept grounds. Nearby stands the Tam Thai pagoda, one of the oldest in the region.
The marble-carving village at the foot
At the foot of the Marble Mountains is Làng Đá Non Nước, a village of stone carvers. Dozens of workshops cut marble statues to order and for sale. A small figurine starts at 200,000 VND (~$8); a life-size sculpture runs into several million.
You can watch the carvers at work — no one stops you from wandering in and looking. Bargaining is expected and fine. Shipping a large sculpture home is its own logistical puzzle, but the workshops are used to sending pieces abroad.
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Message the managerTickets and hours in 2026
| Item | Price (VND) | Price (~USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Entry to Thuy Son | 40,000 | ~$1.60 |
| Elevator up (one way) | 15,000 | ~$0.60 |
| Am Phu cave | 20,000 | ~$0.80 |
| Guide per group | 50,000–100,000 | ~$2–4 |
| Children under 6 | free | — |
| Total (full visit) | 75,000 | ~$3 |
Hours are 07:00–17:30, with the last cave entry at 17:00. After 17:00 they sometimes stop charging for entry — but the caves are already closed, so all that is left is the viewpoint and the pagodas.
Information current as of April 2026.
For comparison, Ba Na Hills costs 750,000 VND. The Marble Mountains are almost 20 times cheaper, and the experience holds its own. A different character, but no less powerful.
How to get there
The Marble Mountains are 8 km from central Da Nang. Getting there is quick and cheap.
| Option | Price | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Grab / taxi | 50,000–80,000 VND (~$2–3.20) | 15–20 min |
| Motorbike | rental ~150,000 VND/day (~$6) | 15 min |
| Bus (route 1) | 8,000 VND (~$0.30) | 25–30 min |
| From Hoi An | Grab ~200,000 VND (~$8) | 25 min |
A motorbike is the easiest option. Parking at the entrance is 5,000 VND. It pairs neatly with Non Nuoc beach (five minutes away) or a run down to Hoi An (20 minutes south). Grab works everywhere in Da Nang and takes card payment in the app.
Practical tips
The ideal route (2–3 hours)
- 08:30 — enter, elevator up (or the steps if you are up for it)
- 09:00 — Huyen Khong cave (the light beams start around 9:30)
- 09:45 — Tang Chon cave (quiet, few people)
- 10:15 — Vọng Hải Đài viewpoint + pagodas
- 10:45 — walk back down the steps
- 11:00 — Am Phu cave (at the foot)
- 11:30 — carving village + Non Nuoc beach
What to wear
Sturdy shoes, no exceptions. The steps are slick with humidity even in the dry season, so flip-flops are a bad idea. Bring clothing that covers your knees and shoulders for the temples.
When to go
The best months are February to May: dry, not too hot, and the cave light shows clearly. Avoid 11:30–14:00 — hot and crowded, with the buses in from Hoi An. Early morning (07:00–08:30) means the fewest tourists, but the beams in Huyen Khong are not out yet.
Combinations
Marble Mountains + Non Nuoc beach makes a half-day. Marble Mountains + Hoi An fills a full day. Marble Mountains in the morning + Da Nang's beaches in the afternoon is the classic plan. If you would rather not sort the logistics yourself, a guided Da Nang tour usually rolls the mountains in.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Absurdly cheap — ~$1.60 to get in
- The Huyen Khong cave with its light beams is one of the best photo spots in Vietnam
- Compact — you see it all in 2–3 hours
- A beach right next door, easy to combine
- The war history adds real depth
Cons
- The steps. 156 of them — steep and slick. Not for anyone with mobility issues (the elevator helps, but not for the whole route)
- Crowds at peak. By 10:00 the buses roll in from Hoi An and Huyen Khong fills up
- The heat. In summer (June–August) climbing the steps is a test. There is little shade
- Am Phu is an acquired taste. Some find it kitsch, some find it creepy
FAQ
How much does it cost to visit the Marble Mountains in 2026?
Entry is 40,000 VND (~$1.60). The elevator up is 15,000 VND (~$0.60) one way. The Am Phu cave is a separate 20,000 VND (~$0.80) ticket. A full visit comes to 75,000 VND (~$3). Children under 6 are free.
When is the best time to arrive — morning or midday?
For photos in the Huyen Khong cave, come between 9:00 and 11:00, when sunlight breaks through the holes in the ceiling. For empty paths and the fewest tourists, arrive at 07:00. Avoid 10:30–13:00, the peak of the tour buses coming in from Hoi An.
How much time do you need for the Marble Mountains?
About 2–3 hours for all the caves, pagodas and viewpoints. Add the stone-carving village for another 30 minutes. Combine it with Non Nuoc beach and you have a half-day out.
How do you get to the Marble Mountains from Da Nang?
A Grab ride costs 50,000–80,000 VND (15–20 minutes), local bus route 1 is 8,000 VND (25–30 minutes), or ride a motorbike. Parking is 5,000 VND. From Hoi An a Grab is around 200,000 VND (25 minutes).
Do you need to be fit?
156 steps lead to the summit, a 10–15 minute climb. There is an elevator for 15,000 VND, but it does not reach every point. Inside the caves there are stairs and narrow passages. Sturdy shoes are a must; flip-flops are risky on the wet stone.
Can you combine the Marble Mountains with other places?
The best pairings: Marble Mountains + Non Nuoc beach (5 minutes away) for a half-day; Marble Mountains + Hoi An (20 minutes south) for a full day. Do not try to add Ba Na Hills the same day — it is 35 km the other way and a separate 5–6 hours.
Data current as of April 2026. Prices and conditions can change — check the official sources before your trip.