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Private tailor-made journeys of a life time
Jul 28, 2023
By Ms. Anh Thu
One of the most alluring locations in Da Nang, Vietnam, is Marble Mountains (Ngu Hanh Son). Together with the beauty of nature, these mountains provide significant historical, cultural, and spiritual qualities. Ngu Hanh Son Da Nang Travel Guide contains useful details on the Marble Mountains in Da Nang, as well as advice on how to make the most of your visit. Let’s explore this destination with Vietnam Escape Tours!
Ngu Hanh Son also known as the Marble Mountains is five marble and limestone mountains together rise behind a sandy coastline. As its name suggests, Ngu Hanh Son here is a Sino-Vietnamese phrase meaning five mountains. These five mountains are referred to as Kim Son (metal mountain), Moc Son (wood mountain), Thuy Son (water mountain), Hoa Son (fire mountain), and Tho Son (earth mountain), in that order. Their names are derived from the five elements of the old Eastern philosophy: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth.
About 8 kilometers from the heart of Da Nang, Ngu Hanh Son Mountain is located close to the Hoa Khue Village shoreline. It is a whole system made up of five separate mountains, each with its own distinctive characteristics. Their names, which stand for the five components of nature, are Kim Son, Thuy Son, Tho Son, Hoa Son, and Moc Son.
For tourists and Vietnamese, Ngu Hanh Son is undoubtedly a holy place. Thuy Son is the tallest of the five mountains and offers a breathtaking view when viewed from above, making it the most noticeable.
Thuy Son, the largest and most famous of the five Marble Mountains, is home to numerous natural caves with ancient Hindu and Buddhist sanctuaries. Thus it is the most worthy visit in Ngu Hanh Son Da Nang Travel Guide. The closest path to the beach is the Ong Chon Gate, leading to Linh Ong Pagoda. Behind the pagoda, a path leads through tunnels to caverns with Buddhas and Cham carvings. A flight of steps leads to another cave with two seated Buddhas. An elevator is available for those who prefer to walk up and down.
Thuy Son mountain has three peaks: Thuong Thai, located in northwest Thuy Son, with its pagodas, caves, and Hanh Cung area. South Thuy Son features Van Can Nguyet Quat Gate, Van Thong, Thien Long, and Thien Phuoc Dia caves. East Thuy Son's Ha Thai, the lowest peak, includes Linh Ung Pagoda, Tang Chon Cave, Vong Hai Dai, and Xa Loi Tower.
Thuy Son Mountain has two roads leading to pagodas and caves: the east gate leads to Linh Ung Pagoda and the west gate leads to Tam Thai Pagoda. King Minh Mang visited Thuy Son the most in 1825, 1827, and 1837, with the first two paths built up the mountain. The main path to Thuy Son begins at Xa Loi Pagoda, which offers a stunning view of the coast. Stairs off the main pathway lead to Vong Hai Da, a viewpoint with a panoramic view of Danang Beach. The path continues to the right and into a mini-gorge, culminating in Van Thong Cave.
Entrance fee: 40,000 VND/person
Elevator fee: 15,000 VND/ person/trip (7:00 – 17:30)
Kim Son, shaped like a bell, is located near the Co Co River and offers nature lovers a peaceful experience. Visitors can enjoy boating along the Co Co River and the peaceful Marble Mountains. Quan Am Pagoda is situated on the mountain's back. Quan Am Cave, discovered in 1956, is a must-visit destination. The cave's small entrance and steep cliffs make it difficult to find, but as you get deeper, the cave becomes larger.
Vietnamese people bring offerings to the cave on lunar occasions for health, wealth, and happiness. A human-size natural marble sculpture of Bodhisattva was created through the process of water-influenced marble. A natural clear water pond is located at the center of the cave, which is fed by the Co Co River, passing various rock layers for its clearness.
Hoa Son is another mountain in the group of the five Marble Mountains. The Positive and Negative are two mountains joined by a natural rock structure and moving in opposite directions. Ung Thien Pagoda is located in the center of this rock road.
There is still a little stretch of water connecting the Ba Cha and Bai Dai rivers where the Co Co River once meandered along Hoa Son's southern flank.
Hoa Son is not well known for its natural beauty, but it is home to the Linh Son Pagoda and Huyen Vi Cave, two well-known Buddhist temples.
Moc Son is situated east of Thuy Son island, close to the water. Sand caverns are in the east and south, fields are in the north, and settlements are in the west. Despite its name (Moc means trees), there aren't many trees in this area. The top of the rocky mountain was cut into serrated sawtooth like a rooster's comb, so maybe that's why it got the name Mong Ga Mountain. There are no temples on this mountain but a white marble block that looks like a sitting person. Locals call it Co Mu or Ba Quan Am. Under the top of the mountain l0m, there is a large stone man running across the south. In the mountain there is a small cave, it is said that in the past there was a woman named Trung Tu, so it was called Ba Trung Cave. During the two resistance wars against the French and against the US, local cadres and people often came here to avoid enemy aircraft.
Tho Son, located at the northwest top of Ngu Hanh Son, is characterized by steep cliffs and few trees. The lowest point is on the western slope, and in the east, there is a 20-meter-deep cave called Bo De Cave, also known as Coc Cave. This natural tunnel was used as a hiding place and secret activity for people and revolutionary soldiers during the resistance against the French and the Americans. Today, it is a historical relic in the Marble Mountains. Bo De cave contributes to understanding the history of the Hoa Hai army and people in general, particularly Ngu Hanh Son, and is an interesting destination for visitors to explore the scenic area.
Linh Ung Bai But Pagoda is located on the Son Tra peninsula, offering breathtaking views of the East Sea, Cu Lao Cham Island, Hai Van Mountain, and the Han River. The Son Tra peninsula's ideal location gives it the appearance of being where the sea and mountains meet the sky. Linh Ung Pagoda (Linh Ung Bai But) should be the top destination for travelers seeking peace and breath-taking vistas from a high vantage point while in Da Nang. The pagoda, a combination of contemporary and traditional Vietnamese temples, is situated on 20 hectares of Son Tra mountain. It has a main hall, lecture hall, ancestral home, road halls, library, cafeteria, and Arhat statue park, among other amenities. The main gate requires 20 steps to access.
The most prominent feature is the Lady Buddha statue, the tallest in Vietnam, standing 67 meters high and weighing 35 meters in diameter. The statue is 17 meters wide and has 17 floors, each with 21 Buddha statues. The 17th floor also features a staircase leading to the statue's top.
Huyen Khong Cave, located near Tam Thai Pagoda, is the largest in the Marble Mountains and Da Nang caves. It features an open ceiling and temples, with the entrance featuring a high dome called Hoa Nghiem cave. The oldest stele of Da Nang dates back to the 17th century, indicating donors who donated money to renovate the pagodas. Huyen Khong cave is blessed by nature and features a large chamber enclosed by rock walls cut by rainwater. Sunlight falls through five holes in its ceiling, believed to be Buddha's fingers.
The cave is blessed with a large chamber, which is wet and muddy during rainy seasons. Historians believe that Huyen Khong cave may have housed Cham temples to venerate Hindu gods before becoming a Buddhist sacred site. The cave also contains sculptures dating back to the 10th century, and guardians statues at the entrance.
Tam Thai Pagoda, located in the Marble Mountains, is a 13 km-long monument in Danang City, witnessing the ups and downs of the country. The pagoda, built in 1630, though was destroyed in 1825 by Emperor Minh Mang, the pagoda still retains its majesty and ancient features. Designed with three stories, the pagoda is a national treasure and a popular attraction for visitors and Buddha followers. The pagoda is a three-story structure with Chinese characters, showcasing the beauty of Buddhism. The pagoda is a testament to the importance of preserving and preserving the cultural heritage of Vietnam.
Vietnamese Marble Mountains' Am Phu is a Buddhist hell where sinners confess their transgressions, endure sufferings, and then see the light of heaven. Discovered in the 19th century, the cave symbolizes a yin-yang dualism: the mountain's topside is considered heaven, while visitors first pass through subterranean caverns representing hell. The cave is filled with frightening figures and altars created by local artists, creating a haunting experience. Visitors cross a bridge symbolizing the passage from Earthly existence into the afterlife, where they encounter hellish realms of man-hungry crocodiles, violent demons, and fanged devils. Inside the cave, fragrant incense envelops the air, and visitors can confess their sins at temple shrines. The marble scale weighs their good and bad deeds and visions of punishment haunt visitors until a steep stone staircase ascends to a sunlit opening.
Da Nang's Non Nuoc Stone Carving Village, located at the foot of the Marble Mountains, has a rich history of over 200 years. Founded by craftsman Huynh Ba Quat, the village has expanded its product range and is now considered one of the city's highest-value exports. The village's skilled carvers produce beautiful sculptures, jewelry, and statues of Buddha, sphinxes, birds, animals, national heroes, and famous characters. There are hundreds of carvers working in over 300 carving businesses, making beautiful polished sculptures and high-end products.
Non Nuoc Beach, located in Da Nang, Viet Nam, is a 5-kilometer coastline with a peach-colored coastline and a peach-colored silky coastline. The beach is famous for its variety of seafood, including shrimp, crab, and fish noodle soup. The resort offers a clean blue sea, soft white sand beaches, gentle slopes, crystal clear chalcedony, and green palms. The mild climate makes it an ideal location for water sports enthusiasts, including snorkeling, reef sighting, sailing, surfing, paragliding, and water motor games. Visitors can also capture stunning photos of the natural beauty, with the white sand, blue sea, sunlight, and green trees providing a stunning backdrop for Instagram photos.
There are a lot of eateries near Ngu Hanh Son for you to choose from. In this post of Ngu Hanh Son Da Nang Travel Guide, we have listed the top 5 eateries below:
Cuisines: Asian and Indian
Address: 26 Ngo Thi Si, Group 18, Ngu Hanh Son
Address: 128 Huyen Tran Cong Chua Hoa Hai, Ngu Hanh Son
Cuisines: Cafe, Seafood, and Vietnamese
Address: 187 Huyen Tran Cong Chua Hoa Hai, Ngu Hanh Son
Cuisines: Vietnamese and Asian
Address: 215/14 Huyen Tran Cong Chua Ngu Hanh Son
Cuisines: Vietnamese, Street Food, and Asian
Address: 152 Huyen Tran Cong Chua Ngu Hanh Son
Cuisines: Italian, French, and Vietnamese
Da Nang, located in Vietnam, has two seasons: dry (December to August) and rainy (September to November). According to Ngu Hanh Son Da Nang Travel Guide Tourists can visit Marble Mountains any time of the year, but summer is the best time to enjoy swimming on natural beaches like My Khe Beach and An Bang Beach. This time offers the best view of mountain clusters and Vietnam's most beautiful time of year. However, unpredictable weather and slippery stairs can pose challenges during typhoons and rainy seasons.
To reach Marble Mountains from Hoi An or Da Nang, you can book a one-way taxi or a round trip with a pre-booked taxi fare of around 500,000 VND (21.50 USD). The bus is the best option, passing Marble Mountains along the Le Van Hien highway. You can alight at a nearby bus stop and walk to the ticket office.
Alternatively, you can find Marble Mountains with your own transport by traveling 8 kilometers south from Da Nang or 20 kilometers north, along either the Le Van Hien highway or Truong Sa coast road. The ticket entrance is located on Huyen Tran Cong Chua Street, surrounded by sculpture shops.
Organized tours of the Marble Mountains are available from most hotels in Hoi An, often as resellers for tour companies. Vietnam Escape Tours offers Ngu Hanh Son Da Nang Travel Guide and Da Nang City & My Son Holy Land One Day tour that includes Marble Mountain Monkey Mountain, My Son Sanctuary, and Thu Bon River which you should consider.
