If you’re tired of wandering plazas and souvenir shopping in the numerous boutique gift stores of Da Nang’s little city centre, the Marble Mountains is an excellent quiet scenic spot for that Instagram boost and a nice little workout for your legs.

Located just a bus ride away south of Da Nang, the Marble Mountains are a cluster of five hills made of limestone and – you guessed it – marble. Each is named after each element: metal, water, wood, fire, and earth. There you can find many Buddhist and Hindu shrines and statues, but with nice weather it also makes for a great quiet place for a wander and a good number of photographic opportunities.

Getting There from Da Nang

Grab (the Southeast Asian equivalent of ridesharing apps such as Uber) is a great option for those who are looking for fast, convenient transport, and by the average tourist’s standards it is not all too expensive. A ride from Da Nang’s city centre might set you back only around đ200,000 (~US$8.50) one way depending on the time of day. This may be convenient for groups of 4, as it removes the uncertainties in taking public transportation.

That being said, taking a bus is a very simple process if you’re looking to use public transportation. By far the most common route is to take the bus on the Da Nang to Hoi An route, which begins from Da Nang’s Central Bus Station (Bến Xe Trung Tâm Đà Nẵng) and runs through the main city. Due to the small size of Da Nang, it’s not too far to walk to one of the bus stops on this route.

The bus runs every 20 minutes, with the first departing at 5.30am. It’s easy to identify by the route printed on its windshield. Simply look for the words DA NANG – HOI AN, and make sure to flag the bus down and be prepared to jump on board.

Bus Etiquette: What to Expect

What happens on the bus can be a mess for those who are unprepared. Certainly for people who are well-versed in developing countries this may not be so much of a surprise, but we find that the process of ticketing may differ country to country.

They run on a tight schedule. Firstly, get on as fast as you can. The bus will slow at best, but whether it comes to a full, rolling stop is not common.

Two staff members work on board: the driver, and the conductor. The conductor will allocate you a seat, sometimes separately, which we recommend that you do not negotiate. They’re busy, and they don’t have time to argue. There may also be some slight manhandling. Due to the rocking on the bus, the conductor may take hold of your arm to help you into a seat. Please be mindful that they are not disrespectful, but only doing their jobs as efficiently as they can.

Once things have settled as much as is possible amongst the chaos, the conductor will then approach you to check your destination. We told him Marble Mountain slowly and clearly in English with a map display on our phone for backup. He understand us fine. We were charged đ20,000 (~US$0.90) per person for the ride.

Google Maps suggested it would be an hour’s drive to the Marble Mountains from our bus stop. However, with the (should we say) enthusiasm of Vietnam’s drivers, we were only on board for thirty minutes. We recommend using the GPS on your phone to check your location.

We were fortunate in our situation that the conductor was very active in ensuring we got off at the right stop. Upon approaching, he gestured us to get ready to get off, and helped us off the bus when it slowed enough. He also pointed us in the direction of the Marble Mountains before the bus sped away again. Otherwise, you can indicate to the driver that you need to get off at the next stop.

Once you’re at the stop, it’s a short walk to the main entrances of the Marble Mountains. The return journey will use the same bus on the same route in the Da Nang direction.

Entrance to the Marble Mountain

There are multiple paths in climbing the Marble Mountain, as well as an elevator. We walked to Gate No.2, which is just past the elevator from the bus stop. Entrance is đ40,000 (~US$1.80) per person, and they will give you a ticket. We were also given a map which they charged us đ15,000 (~US0.65) for. We refused it immediately. They were unhappy about it, but did not push us any further and refunded the charge.

Stationed at each entrance is someone who will rip your ticket for you to ensure it is only used once. They may be partway up the stairs, but expect to not get away with skipping the entrance fee.

Marble Mountain’s Elevator and Mountain Accessibility

The elevator is đ15,000 (~US$0.65) per person one way. This may sound like an excellent way to bypass the hike and head straight to the top, but in reality the elevator does not do that. At most, it will help you ascend about 3 floors worth of height, and while it stops at a platform with views it is not at the peak. It is a very cheap fee, but alternatively it is also not a difficult climb.

Something to note is that despite the elevator, the Mountains are not wheelchair-friendly. In taking the elevator, you have access to a platform with a statue and some views, but it is only one section of many that the area offers. In order to see a large majority of the mountain, there are stairs at virtually every section and cave, even if it is only a short height. If you are looking to go with small children, we advise that you do not bring strollers, unless you are simply looking to take them to the small platform for viewing.

Otherwise, while it is not a difficult climb for the able-bodied, there are stairs at every section. If you take the elevator to ascend the first set of stairs, the rest of the mountain is easy to navigate.

On the Marble Mountain

The Marble Mountain houses a number of little caves holding religious statues and shrines, as well as several features such as ponds and garden arragements. There is a pagoda for excellent views, and due to the naturally flat landscape it allows for incredible scenery for a fair distance.

There are many places to get refreshments all over the mountains and the surrounding area. There are vendors dotted on the mountain selling cold beverages and coconuts. At the foot of the mountain there are also convenience stores and beverage stands. While the prices of the convenience stores are standardised, it is less so the case for the others. Expectedly, the prices can be comparatively higher, though still not unreasonable to many tourists.

It is a nice place to visit for a quiet half-day trip out. It would not be difficult spending a couple of hours there, with an hour for travelling to and from. If you’re keen for some amazing photographs and a day of tranquil walking, it’s a great place to visit if you’re in Da Nang.

The Marble Mountains (Núi Ngũ Hành Sơn Đà Nẵng)
52 Huyền Trân Công Chúa, Hoà Hải, Ngũ Hành Sơn, Đà Nẵng 550000, Vietnam
Mon-Sun 7am-5:30pm
Entrance: đ40,000 per person; elevator đ15,000 per person one way