Ba Na Hills and Marble Mountains are two popular tourist attractions in Da Nang and Hoi An area. All of them are mountain places, not too far from cities, and worth visiting because of many interests. In this article, HoiAn Day Trip Company will introduce Ba Na Hills and Marble Mountains, and tell visitors which one is better, based on different travel purposes and time.
You also may like: Ba Na Hills or My Son Sanctuary
• Content by Tam Le, founder of HOIAN DAY TRIP CO.,LTD
• Designed by Giang Cong Minh, co-founder of LS E&C LTD and his team
• Photo by Dang Cong Loi, Dao Xuan Son, Tam Le & others
What is Ba Na Hills Vietnam?
Sun World Ba Na Hills is a theme park 25 kilometers west of Da Nang city, central Vietnam. It’s famous for world record cable cars (including the longest cable car of the world), Golden Hands Bridge (a must see in the country today), massive European style castles in the cloud, breath-taking views, vibrant atmosphere with live shows and performances, amusement park with enthrilling rides, traditional style temples, flower gardens, cascades, old wine cellar, plenty of photo spots,… Located on the top of the mountain, with an elevation of over 1,400m, visitors enjoy cool and fresh air as well as awe-inspiring natural scenery in Ba Na Hills. In the 20th century, French people established a mountain resort here to escape from the heat in the city. See more information & details
See also:
– Best Time to Visit Ba Na Hills Vietnam
– Is Ba Na Hills Vietnam Worth Visiting?
What is the Marble Mountains?
The Marble Mountains is a complex of towering rocky hills between Da Nang and Hoi An. Known as a ‘little Halong Bay’, its mountains rise spectacularly above the ground and the mountain’s sides are sheer, impossible to climb. In the 19th century, a Vietnamese king named this complex ‘Five-Elements Mountain’, and each mountain was called by an element (water, metal, earth, fire or wood). The main visiting place is the Water Mountain where tourists can see old Buddhist temples, majestic caves, and points with fantastic views. Two of the temples are the holiest in the area. In the largest cave, Huyen Khong Cave, such brilliant beams of light falling down from the top, give a perfect photo opportunity. In the Vietnam War, Am Phu Cave (meaning the ‘hell’) was the hiding place and field hospital of Vietcong communists. See more information & details
See also:
– Is Marble Mountains Vietnam Worth Visiting?
Travel with Kids: Ba Na Hills or Marble Mountains?
Both Ba Na Hills and Marble Mountains are good for children and they can keep entertained during the day.
Your kids may like these things in Sun World Ba Na Hills: some of the longest cable cars in the world (5 kilometers long or more) and see wildlife from the cars, games and entertainments at the Fantasy Park (alpine coasters, drop tower, rock climbing, video games, bumper car, 3D-4D-5D films, basket boat game,…), seeing and taking pictures with world-famous people at Ba Na Hills Wax Museum, outdoor performances (dancing, singing, shows), seeing Golden Hands Bridge, seeing colorful flowers at Le Jardin D’amour, Mystery Garden (maze), carnival rides at the French village, trying local food and Asian food at buffet restaurants,…
Here are things to do which your kids may like in the Marble Mountains: seeing massive caves with rock formations and living bats, climbing to peaks to catch cool breeze from the sea and a great panoramic view, seeing and taking photos with fairy beams of light at Huyen Khong Cave, seeing a variety of stone sculptures (animals, diverse colors,…), learning about local history and culture from a local guide,…
Here are some points that parents should note if traveling with kids:
– It’s needed to spend at least ½ day to see/do everything in Ba Na Hills and 1-2 hours to explore the Marble Mountains (Mount Thuy Son particularly). So, if don’t have much time, parents can consider skipping Ba Na Hills and going to Marble Mountains only. If have from 1,5 days, both places deserve seeing.
– Ba Na Hills ticket price for children taller than 1,4 meters is same to adults (900,000 to 1,250,000 VND, 2024) and is from 700,000 to 950,000 VND, 2024. It’s free for kids below 1m height. Marble Mountains ticket price is 40,000 VND for adults and children above 10 years old. So, about the cost, traveling to Ba Na Hills is much more expensive if your kids are tall.
Marble Mountains anyway are closer to Da Nang and Hoi An centre than Ba Na Hills. So, need to pay for transport or tours to get there.
– In the wet season (September to January), weather at Ba Na Hills is often cloudy and rainy, so it’s nothing much to see/do actually. At this time, the Marble Mountains is still better.
For Senior Citizens: Ba Na Hills or Marble Mountains?
Both Ba Na Hills and Marble Mountains are mountain places, so senior citizens will have to walk a long distance or climb many stairs to visit around.
If can’t climb many stairs, in the Marble Mountains, senior citizens can go to Linh Ung Pagoda and Tang Chon Cave behind it. Elevator is available to get up there. The price is only 15,000 VND each way (30,000 VND for 2 ways). After getting off the elevator, it’s needed to walk about 100m and go downstairs to sightsee the pagoda. To use the elevator again, please go back the same way.
In Ba Na Hills, escalators and elevators are available to use to go to cable car stations. From there, will ride the car to reach the top of the mountain (just sit, relax and enjoy the views in 15-20 mins). After landing, it’s needed to walk and occasionally to use escalators/elevators to sightsee attractions. If board at the Hoi An station, the car carries visitors directly to the Golden Hands Bridge. Sure, it’s possible to walk on it and photograph. To discover the rest of the area, still need to walk uphill and downhill.
In the main entrance of Sun World Ba Na Hills, senior citizens can borrow a wheelchair to get around. When finishing the trip, please return it to the same place.
During the wet season (September to January), please remember to check the weather forecast in advance. When the day is closer, one more check is still necessary. Due to heavy rain and dense fog, senior citizens can skip Ba Na Hills and instead, go to the Marble Mountains. If would like to remove the Marble Mountains from the travel plan, now Hoi An is the best attraction to visit. Full information & details
Ba Na Hills or Marble Mountains for 1 Day?
If have 1 day only in Da Nang/Hoi An, visitors can go to Ba Na Hills or Marble Mountains or both. Traveling by your own, time is needed to research and plan (can read Ba Na Hills self guided tour). However, to save time, a tour guided by local experts makes everything easy breezy.
From Da Nang, visitors can start in the morning and then spend a full day at Sun World Ba Na Hills. At night, can go to night markets, walking streets, beaches, sky bars, seafood restaurants, spas,… More information and details in https://hoiandaytrip.com/things-to-do-in-da-nang-at-night. If just want to see/photograph Golden Hands Bridge and other highlights (such as cable cars), visitors need only ½ day at Ba Na Hills and then can go to see the Marble Mountains. In the evening, please browse above link for further information. To avoid the crowds at Ba Na Hills, let’s sightsee Marble Mountains in the morning and then head to Ba Na Hills or have to go early.
If don’t go to Ba Na Hills, visitors can visit the Marble Mountains and other Da Nang’s landmarks, such as Lady Buddha, Cham Museum, or Dragon Bridge or relax on My Khe Beach.
From Hoi An, visitors need over 1hr to reach Ba Na Hills and then can spend one full day there. In the evening, can go to the night market, old town, riverside restaurants and café, do lantern boat rides to release lanterns for making wishes, watch bamboo circus or Hoi An memories show,… More information and details in https://hoiandaytrip.com/things-to-do-in-hoi-an-at-night. If just want to see/photograph Golden Hands Bridge and other highlights (such as cable cars), visitors need only ½ day at Ba Na Hills and then can go to see the Marble Mountains. In the evening, please browse the above link for further information. To avoid the crowds at Ba Na Hills, let’s sightsee Marble Mountains in the morning and then head to Ba Na Hills or have to go early.
If don’t go to Ba Na Hills, visitors can use around ½ day for the Marble Mountains and the other half for Hoi An Old Town, basket boat ride in coconut forest, explore Hoi An’s countryside, or relaxing at An Bang Beach.
Ba Na Hills & Marble Mountain Tour
If have a one full day in Da Nang/Hoi An, visitors can sightsee Ba Na Hills and Marble Mountains. In the morning, Sun World Ba Na Hills is the main attraction. Highlights here are world-record cable cars, Golden Hands Bridge, Le Jardin D’amour Flower Garden, Linh Ung Pagoda, French Village, Fantasy Park, Eclipse Square, Lunar Castle, Helios Waterfall, Atlas Statue/Sculpture, outdoor performances. A lunch buffet is often served in tours organized by local companies (international buffet or Indian buffet).
In the afternoon, will discover the Marble Mountains with ancient Buddhist temples, viewpoints and peaks with a 360oC view, and majestic caves (one of them allows such amazing beams of light to fall into). Around the hillfoot, local people have carved stone sculptures varying in size, color, shape, and meaning. It’s needed to climb many stairs to see every major sight in this mountain.
See full information and details in https://hoiandaytrip.com/golden-bridge-ba-na-hills-marble-mountains-tour
Guided Tours to Ba Na Hills Da Nang Vietnam
Here are guided tours to Ba Na Hills Vietnam:
– Ba Na Hills & Golden Bridge Day Tour
– Ba Na Hills Private Tour with Golden Bridge & Lunch Buffet
– Ba Na Hills Early Morning Tour to Avoid the Crowds
– Ba Na Hills Sunset Tour with Golden Bridge & Dinner
– Ba Na Hills Night Tour with Golden Bridge Sunset & Dinner
– Ba Na Hills Muslim Tour with Halal Buffet & Prayer Room
– Golden Bridge/Ba Na Hills & Marble Mountain Tour
– Ba Na Hills Day Tour with Chinese Speaking Guide
– Ba Na Hills Day Tour with Thai Speaking Guide
– Golden Bridge/Ba Na Hills Private Tour from Da Nang with Hoi An Drop Off
– Golden Bridge/Ba Na Hills Private Tour from Hoi An with Da Nang Drop Off
– Golden Bridge/Ba Na Hills & Lady Buddha Tour
– Golden Bridge/Ba Na Hills & My Son Sanctuary Tour
– Golden Bridge/Ba Na Hills & Hoi An Tour
– Golden Bridge/Ba Na Hills & Hoi An Pottery Village
– Golden Bridge/Ba Na Hills & Hoi An Coconut Village
– Golden Bridge/Ba Na Hills Tour from Da Nang Cruise Port
– Golden Bridge/Ba Na Hills Tour from Chan May Cruise Port
– Golden Bridge/Ba Na Hills Private Tour from Lang Co
HOIAN DAY TRIP CO.,LTD daily organizes tours and transfers to Ba Na Hills from Da Nang/Hoi An/Hue. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
