# Marble Mountains, Da Nang > The Marble Mountains (Ngu Hanh Son) are five limestone hills 8 km south-east of central Da Nang. Visitors climb Thuy Son for Huyen Khong and Am Phu caves, Tam Thai and Linh Ung pagodas and sea views. Entry is 40,000 VND, the lift 15,000 VND one way; open daily roughly 7:00–17:30. Allow 2–3 hours. Web page: https://yesgo.io/vietnam/da-nang/marble-mountains - City: [Da Nang](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/da-nang), Vietnam - YesGo score: 27/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 2 h - Entry: 40,000 VND + lift 15,000 VND - With kids: Fine with kids - Thuy Son entry: 40,000 VND; students 10,000 VND; under-6s free - Lift: 15,000 VND one way, 30,000 VND return; separate ticket - Am Phu cave: Separate ticket: 20,000 VND, students 7,000 VND, under-6s free - Local guide: 50,000 VND per group - Hours: Daily around 7:00–17:30, no closing day - Address: 81 Huyền Trân Công Chúa, Ngu Hanh Son ward; ticket desks at Gate 1 and Gate 2 - Paying: Cash in VND; cards are not taken at the ticket desks - Coordinates: 16.00430, 108.26350 - Facts checked: 05.11.2026 ## Key facts - **40,000 VND** — adult entry to Thuy Son; the lift and Am Phu cave cost extra (source: Da Nang tourism portal (city Department of Tourism)) - **2–3 hours** — for the caves, pagodas and viewpoints of Thuy Son (source: YesGo estimate based on travel guides) - **≈ 8 km** — south-east of central Da Nang, about 15–25 minutes by car (source: Da Nang tourism portal; Vietnamese Wikipedia) - **5 hills** — Kim, Moc, Thuy, Hoa, Tho — metal, wood, water, fire and earth (source: English Wikipedia; Da Nang tourism portal) - **156 steps** — from the west gate up to Tam Thai pagoda (source: English and Vietnamese Wikipedia) - **1630** — Tam Thai pagoda was founded (source: Da Nang tourism portal; Vietnamese Wikipedia) - **1825** — Linh Ung pagoda on Thuy Son was built under Emperor Minh Mang (source: Da Nang tourism portal) - **9 caves** — on Thuy Son; Huyen Khong is the largest (source: Da Nang tourism portal) - **15 ha** — area of Thuy Son (source: Da Nang tourism portal; Vietnamese Wikipedia) - **2019** — the Marble Mountains became a Special National Relic of Vietnam (source: Da Nang tourism portal; English Wikipedia) - **2014** — Non Nuoc stone carving was listed as national intangible heritage (source: Da Nang tourism portal) > **Three tickets, not one** The Marble Mountains have **three separate tickets**: Thuy Son entry (40,000 VND), the lift (15,000 VND each way) and Am Phu cave at the foot (20,000 VND). Buy the lift ticket at the same desk as entry. The lift only reaches the middle of the mountain — the summit and most caves are still up stone steps, so **shoes with grip** are a must either way. ## Marble Mountains tickets and prices According to Da Nang's official tourism portal, entry to Thuy Son costs **40,000 VND** for adults and **10,000 VND** for students, and **under-6s go free**. The **lift** is a separate ticket: 15,000 VND one way or 30,000 VND return. **Am Phu cave** at the foot of the mountain is a third ticket at 20,000 VND (students 7,000 VND, under-6s free). An on-site guide costs 50,000 VND per group. Our pick: **ride the lift up and walk down**. Climbing in the heat is the hard part; the stairs down are easy. Entry, a one-way lift and Am Phu come to 75,000 VND per person. **Bring cash.** Travel guides agree the ticket desks take dong notes only. Grab accepts foreign cards in the app, so the ride is easy to pay; small notes help at the three desks. ## Marble Mountains opening hours The tourism portal doesn't publish hours. Unofficially, the site opens **daily from about 7:00 to 17:30**, with no closing day; ticket sales stop around 17:00 and staff start sending people down shortly before closing. Go **at opening time or after 16:00** — that's also the city portal's advice for the hot season. Mornings bring clearer views from the top and fewer tour buses. Around midday, sunlight shafts through the roof of Huyen Khong cave (unofficial, and only on sunny days), but the open terraces are punishing at that hour. The marble steps get slippery in rain. If it's pouring in the morning, wait it out and come after the rain stops. ## What are the Marble Mountains? **Ngũ Hành Sơn**, the "Mountains of the Five Elements", is a cluster of five limestone and marble outcrops on the flat coastal strip between Da Nang and Hoi An. Each one is named after an element: **Kim Son** (metal), **Moc Son** (wood), **Thuy Son** (water), **Hoa Son** (fire) and **Tho Son** (earth). Nearly every visitor heads up **Thuy Son**, the biggest, at about 15 hectares. It holds nine caves, plus pagodas, a stupa and viewpoints spread over three summits — Thuong Thai, Trung Thai and Ha Thai, which is where Tam Thai, "Three Terraces", pagoda gets its name. These are working Buddhist shrines, not a museum. Monks climb the stairs, incense burns in the caves and Buddha statues are carved straight into the rock. With light falling through holes in the cave roofs and paths squeezing between boulders and tree roots, it's the most unusual place you can reach from Da Nang in 20 minutes. ## What to see on Thuy Son - **Huyen Khong cave (Huyền Không)** — the largest cave: a tall chamber lit through openings in the roof, with altars and statues set into the rock. The main altar holds a statue of the goddess Thien Y A Na. This is the one not to miss. - **Tam Thai pagoda** — the mountain's main pagoda, founded in 1630, with a three-door gate and a large Maitreya Buddha. - **Linh Ung pagoda (Linh Ứng)** — faces the sea, built in 1825 under Emperor Minh Mang, with a tall statue of the bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara. Not to be confused with the Linh Ung pagoda of the [Lady Buddha](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/da-nang/lady-buddha) on the Son Tra peninsula. - **Xa Loi tower** — a multi-tiered stupa on the middle level, right by the top of the lift. - **Tang Chon, Hoa Nghiem and Van Thong caves** — small and quiet. Tang Chon has low spots where you'll need to stoop; Van Thong is a narrow vertical squeeze up towards the summit — skip it if you're claustrophobic. - **Vong Giang Dai and Vong Hai Dai** — the river-view and sea-view terraces, looking over the other four hills, Non Nuoc Beach and the city. - **Am Phu cave (Âm Phủ)** — at the southern foot, separate ticket: a dark cave of Buddhist hell scenes. The deeper you go, the darker it gets. - **Non Nuoc stone carving village** — workshops and showrooms along the foot of the mountains, from palm-sized figures to life-size statues. > **What to wear** Thuy Son is an active Buddhist site. Cover **shoulders and knees**, take your shoes off before entering prayer halls, don't turn your back on a Buddha statue for a selfie and ask before photographing anyone praying. A light scarf or long-sleeved shirt does the job — and wear closed shoes with grip for the marble steps. ## How to get to the Marble Mountains 1. **Grab or taxi from the centre** — from the Bach Dang riverside at the west end of the Dragon Bridge it's about 9 km, 20–30 minutes: across the bridge to the sea, then south along the coast road past My Khe Beach. Unofficially, Grab costs 80,000–120,000 VND; a metered taxi 100,000–150,000 VND. 2. **From My Khe Beach** — same coast road south, 15–20 minutes by Grab. The easiest option if you're staying by the sea. 3. **By motorbike** — unofficially 100,000–150,000 VND a day to rent, plus fuel. Paid motorbike parking is available by the gates. 4. **By bus** — the Da Nang–Hoi An public bus passes the mountains on Lê Văn Hiến, but guides disagree on route numbers and fares. Check the route in Google Maps on the day and tell the driver "Ngũ Hành Sơn". 5. **From Hoi An** — about 20 km, 35–45 minutes by Grab; unofficially 200,000–280,000 VND. It works well as a stop between Da Nang and Hoi An. 6. **Walking** only makes sense from hotels near Non Nuoc Beach, a few hundred metres away. 7. At Gate 1 buy your Thuy Son ticket and, if you want it, the lift; go up, tour the caves and pagodas, walk down to Am Phu cave and finish along the street of stone carvers. ## How long do you need, and is it worth it? Thuy Son with its main caves and pagodas takes **2–3 hours**. Add 20–30 minutes for Am Phu and about half an hour for the carving workshops — with the ride from the centre, that's a half day. **Worth it** if you have more than two days in Da Nang: it's the most distinctive sight near the city and one of the few you can pair with a beach afternoon. Huyen Khong's light shaft and the summit view out to sea are what you'll remember. **Skip it** if steep steps in tropical heat are a problem, or if you have a single day and must choose between the mountains and Hoi An. In that case, a guided tour that stops here briefly on the way to Hoi An is the better deal. With kids it works, but leave the stroller at the bottom — the stairs are steep and the caves dark and slippery. Under-6s go free. ## A short history The five hills are named after the five elements of East Asian philosophy — hence Ngũ Hành Sơn. Buddhists settled here long ago: Tam Thai pagoda dates from 1630, and the caves have held altars and rock-cut statues for centuries. Linh Ung pagoda followed in 1825, under Emperor Minh Mang, on the slope facing the sea. The stone fed the village of **Non Nuoc** below: a stele cited by Da Nang's tourism portal shows carvers at work by the 17th century at the latest. Quarrying on the hills themselves is now banned, and the workshops bring stone in from other provinces. Non Nuoc carving was listed as national intangible heritage in 2014, and in 2019 the mountains became a Special National Relic. On neighbouring Kim Son, the Quan The Am festival runs every year on the 17th–19th days of the second lunar month. ## Before you go - [ ] Cash in VND for entry, the lift and Am Phu - [ ] Shoes with grip - [ ] Clothes covering shoulders and knees - [ ] Water and a hat - [ ] Phone torch for the dark caves - [ ] Leave at opening time or after 16:00 ## Da Nang views: compare and choose Viewpoints in Da Nang rated by YesGo. - [Dragon Bridge](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/da-nang/dragon-bridge) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free - [Love Lock Bridge](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/da-nang/da-nang-love-bridge) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Free - [Golden Bridge](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/da-nang/golden-bridge) — YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 45 min · 1,000,000 VND (Ba Na Hills ticket) - [Lady Buddha](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/da-nang/lady-buddha) — YesGo score 35/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h · Free - [Hai Van Pass](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/da-nang/hai-van-pass) — YesGo score 28/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · Road free; Hai Van Gate 70,000 VND - [Marble Mountains](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/da-nang/marble-mountains) — YesGo score 27/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · 40,000 VND + lift 15,000 VND - [Ba Na Hills](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/da-nang/ba-na-hills) — YesGo score 21/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · 1,000,000 VND; kids 800,000 VND ## Mountains in the morning, beach by day, bridges at night The Marble Mountains at opening time, [My Khe Beach](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/da-nang/my-khe-beach) once it's hot, and the river with the [Dragon Bridge](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/da-nang/dragon-bridge) in the evening. Add it to your route and YesGo sets the times and rides. 1. [Marble Mountains](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/da-nang/marble-mountains) — YesGo score 27/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · 40,000 VND + lift 15,000 VND 2. [My Khe Beach](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/da-nang/my-khe-beach) — YesGo score 38/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · Free entry, sunbeds extra 3. [Love Lock Bridge](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/da-nang/da-nang-love-bridge) — YesGo score 44/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 20 min · Free 4. [Dragon Bridge](https://yesgo.io/vietnam/da-nang/dragon-bridge) — YesGo score 45/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 30 min · Free ## Tips - Take the lift up and walk down — you'll see more caves and save your legs. - Time Huyen Khong cave for late morning on a sunny day, when light falls through the roof. - If tight spaces bother you, skip Van Thong; ordinary steps also lead to the top. - Carry small dong notes — three desks are easier without waiting for change. - Prices in the Non Nuoc showrooms leave room to haggle; don't buy a big statue without agreeing on shipping in writing. - Pair it with the sea: mountains in the morning, Non Nuoc or My Khe Beach in the afternoon. ## Questions ### How much is the Marble Mountains entrance fee? 40,000 VND for Thuy Son. The lift is 15,000 VND one way, Am Phu cave 20,000 VND, and under-6s go free. Pay in cash. ### What are the Marble Mountains opening hours? Unofficially, daily from about 7:00 to 17:30, with tickets sold until around 17:00. The city tourism portal doesn't list official hours. ### Is there an elevator at the Marble Mountains? Yes, at the main entrance. It costs 15,000 VND one way and goes to the middle level near Linh Ung pagoda; the summit and caves are still up steps. ### How do I get to the Marble Mountains from Da Nang? Grab or taxi is easiest: about 9 km and 20–30 minutes, unofficially 80,000–120,000 VND by Grab. From Hoi An it's about 20 km and 35–45 minutes. ### How long do you need at the Marble Mountains? 2–3 hours for Thuy Son, plus 20–30 minutes for Am Phu cave and half an hour for the carving village. ### Are the Marble Mountains worth visiting? Yes, if you have more than two days in Da Nang and can handle steep steps. With only one day, Hoi An may be the better use of your time. ### What should I wear? Covered shoulders and knees for the pagodas, and closed shoes with grip for the marble steps. ### Is Am Phu cave worth the extra ticket? For 20,000 VND, yes if you like the unusual: it's a dark cave of Buddhist hell scenes, unlike anything else on the mountain. Allow 20–30 minutes. ### Which of the five mountains can you visit? Thuy Son, the Water Mountain, is the one with the lift, caves, pagodas and viewpoints. The other four are mostly seen from its terraces. ## How we checked Prices for entry (40,000 VND, students 10,000 VND, under-6s free), the lift (15,000 / 30,000 VND), Am Phu cave (20,000 VND, students 7,000 VND) and the guide (50,000 VND per group) come from Da Nang's official tourism portal, run by the city's Department of Tourism; several current guides give the same figures. The portal lists no opening hours, so "around 7:00–17:30, tickets until 17:00" comes from travel guides; older ones say 7:30–17:00 or 6:00–18:00 in summer, so it is flagged. Cash-only desks are from guides. Tam Thai's founding year (1630) is from the portal and Vietnamese Wikipedia; Linh Ung's (1825) from the portal only. The 156 steps from the west gate are in both English and Vietnamese Wikipedia; one guide says about 150 to the middle level. We give no height for Thuy Son: Vietnamese Wikipedia has about 160 m for Thuong Thai peak, one guide 108 m, other notes about 106 m. Distance from the centre: 8 km per the portal, 9 km per guides. The midday light in Huyen Khong and Grab, taxi and motorbike prices are unofficial. Bus route numbers differ between sources, so we don't name them. ## Sources - Da Nang tourism portal danangfantasticity.com (city Department of Tourism) — entry, lift and Am Phu prices, concessions, guide fee, address, caves, Tam Thai and Linh Ung pagodas, relic status, Non Nuoc village, Quan The Am festival - English Wikipedia and Vietnamese Wikipedia: Ngũ Hành Sơn; Wikidata Q6755207 — the five hills, steps, caves, summits - vietnamtourism.com, Sun Paradise Land and other travel guides — opening hours, time needed, Grab and taxi fares (unofficial) - YesGo shared notes on Vietnam — paying by card or cash, Grab --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.