Not only Buddhist temples, the Marble Mountains (Five Elements Mountain) is also well known for its collection of caves. All of them are connected together by small passages and tunnels, providing a perfect hiding place for guerillas in the war. The largest mountain Water Mountain has most caves, including the biggest and longest caves. In one cave, visitors can see and be amazed by incredibly dreamy beams of light from its top. In other ones, there are holy shrines and temples where locals often come to pray, including both Hinduism and Buddhism. Now, let’s HoiAn Day Trip Company introduce you to all the caves in the Marble Mountains of Da Nang, Vietnam.
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• 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
Must Knows about Marble Mountains in Da Nang Vietnam
– Location/address: 81 Huyen Tran Cong Chua St, Hoa Hai ward, Ngu Hanh Son district, Da Nang city, Vietnam
– Name in Vietnamese: Ngu Hanh Son (literally ‘the Five Elements Mountain’)
– Other name(s): Non Nuoc (meaning ‘mountain and water’), Pho Da Son (the Buddha Mountain), Ngu Chi Son (literally ‘Five (Buddha’s) Fingers Mountain’)
– Opening hours: 7:30 AM to 5 PM (6 AM to 6 PM in the summertime)
– Ticket price: 40,000 VND/adult & children above 10 years old (2024)
– Mountains: Thuy Son (‘water mountain’, largest), Moc Son (‘wood mountain’), Kim Son (‘metal moutain’), Hoa Son (‘fire mountain’, smallest), Tho Son (‘earth mountain’)
– Elevation: 108 meters (approx 354 ft)
– Type: marble rock, limestone rock
– Age of rock: some millions of years old
– Highest point: Thuong Thai Peak
– Reason(s) to visit: spectacular natural beauty, century-old Buddhist temples, extensive system of caves, peaks with panoramic view, traditional stone carving village, Unesco-listed rock inscriptions
– Best time(s) to visit: early morning, late afternoon, sunny days
– Way(s) to visit: hiking, climbing stairs
– Time to spend: 1,5 to 2 hours
– Tour guide: contact +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo)
– Travel blog: https://hoiandaytrip.com/marble-mountains-travel-guide
– Recognition(s): national scenic spot (1990), special national scenic spot (2018), Unesco documentary heritage of Asia Pacific (2023)
– Event(s): Quan The Am festival, Vu Lan festival, Lunar New year festival
– Food & drink: yes available
– Shopping: yes available
– Fact: The Marble Mountains is the most famous mountain in Da Nang and Vietnam
Marble Mountains (Vietnam) on Map
Caves in Water Mountain (Mount Thuy Son)
Am Phu Cave
Am Phu Cave (‘Hell Cave’) is the longest cave in the Marble Mountains. Its entrance is at the foot of the Water Mountain, the largest mountain in the complex. It’s more enormous than any other caves. Here, visitors will find spacious chambers with majestic rock formations, and some of which have an opening ceiling. During the Vietnam war, in the widest chamber, a hospital was established by communist guerillas to cure injured soldiers, although it’s near an American army’s base. Like its name, this cave showcases a hell, with ideas based on Buddhism and local folk belief about death. Therefore, sightseers can meet ghosts, evils, Kings of the Hell at the last judgement, the 18 Levels of Hell, praying sites. See more information & details
Although Am Phu Cave is on the same mountain as Linh Ung Pagoda, Tam Thai Pagoda, Huyen Khong Cave, Heaven Gate,…, it’s not in the itinerary of many tours. If want to see, make sure that you check the program description carefully.
Huyen Khong Cave
Near Tam Thai Pagoda, on the western side of the Water Mountain, Huyen Khong Cave (meaning ‘cave of mystery and emptiness/nothing’) is the biggest cave. Its main chamber is over 16 meters high, filled with temples, shrines, buddha statues and offsprings from prayers. The holiest temple honors the Goddess of Mountain/Forest who blesses a peaceful and happy life. In the noon time, from its ceiling (which opens to the sky), incredible beams of light fall into the cave and amaze visitors. For that reason, many photographers come here. This natural scene is one of the highlights of the mountain, and makes the cave stand out. Huyen Khong Cave absolutely is a must see. See more information & details
The quickest way to go to Huyen Khong Cave is by stairs from Gate 1 (the staircase/hike to Tam Thai Pagoda). If go from Linh Ung Pagoda, on the other side of the mountain, it’s needed to climb many stairs, through two rocky gates to see it.
Hoa Nghiem Cave
Hoa Nghiem Cave is a marble arch cave in the Water Mountain, near Tam Thai Pagoda. It’s exactly the entrance cave of Huyen Khong Cave, the biggest cave. Here, visitors will see a statue of Lady Buddha (or Guanyin, Goddess of Mercy), the gift from a local reputable stone sculptor Nguyen Chat in 1960. On the 19th day of the 2nd lunar month each year, commemorations to honor her will take place. On the walls of Hoa Nghiem Cave, there are carved letters (Chinese mandarin) or inscriptions to inform events in the past, such as donation activities to restore temples in the mountain.
Tang Chon Cave
Behind Linh Ung Pagoda (aka Non Nuoc Pagoda), Tang Chon Cave is a network of many chambers. Each chamber is home to Buddha statues, temples, shrines, marble sculptures as well as families of bats. Its entry passage is narrow and low, looking like a tunnel, so visitors need to be careful. The largest chamber can accommodate many people and its roof has already collapsed for thousands of years. During the Vietnam war, communists hid inside Tang Chon Cave. See more information & details
The entry of Tang Chon Cave is hidden away behind Linh Ung Pagoda, therefore many visitors do not know it, especially those who do not go with a guide or see the map.
Van Thong Cave
Van Thong Cave is halfway between Tam Thai Pagoda and Linh Ung Pagoda. It consists of two chambers, the first one accommodating a shrine to worship Buddha and the second one (upper one) has no temples but inscriptions. To see the first chamber, visitors need to climb stairs from the main path/trail of the mountain. After that, hike up to see the second one. Here, the cave’s floor is full of limestone and marble cobbles, and the cave’s ceiling opens to the sky. At noon, it’s possible to see a beam of light for taking pictures (although not amazing like Huyen Khong Cave). See more information & details
In the second chamber of Van Thong Cave, visitors can find a dark hole. If climb up and crawl through it, will see a secret trail leading to Heaven Gate, one of the peaks of the mountain. From this point, it’s easy to find another trail/hike to go downstairs and visit other attractions.
Thien Phuoc Dia Cave
On the top of the Water Mountain, this cave looks like a large sinkhole. Its name means ‘Heavenly Blessing Earth Cave’. Visitors can go into it by two natural rocky gates, one from Linh Ung Pagoda and one from Tam Thai Pagoda. Their names are Van Can Nguyet Cat (meaning ‘at foot of the cloud and moon‘) or Hang Gia Dong (‘east windy gate’) and Hang Gio Tay (‘west windy gate’). Inside the cave, it’s possible to find the entrance of Van Thong Cave and Thien Long Cave.
Linh Nham Cave
Linh Nham Cave is a small cave is by the hiking trail from Tam Thai Pagoda to Thuong Thai Peak, the highest point of the Water Mountain (108 meters above the sea level). Its name means ‘holy rock’. In the past, local people worshipped Lady Buddha or Goddess of Mercy here, but now the Jade Emperor (Ngoc Hoang) is the main god. In Taoism, the Jade Emperor is the monarch of all deities in the heaven. Besides him, two other gods Nam Tao or ‘South Lord’ and Bac Dau or ‘North Lord’ are also honored. On 23rd of the last lunar month every year, one week before the Vietnamese Lunar new year, the ceremony to commemorate these gods is held. See more information & details
On the wall of Linh Nham Cave, its name (three Chinese words) was carved by request of Minh Mang king in the 19th century. Additionally, several other inscriptions are also seen here, a part of Unesco-inscribed documentary heritage.
Thien Long Cave
This entrance of this cave is within Thien Phuoc Dia Cave, the sinkhole halfway from Linh Ung Pagoda to Tam Thai Pagoda (and vice versa), near the rocky ‘windy’ gate from Linh Ung Pagoda. It’s inaccessible because of being dangerous. From the above, visitors can see it. Actually, it’s connected with one of the caves in the Tang Chon Cave system lying behind Linh Ung Pagoda.
Caves in Other Mountains
Quan Am Cave Metal Mountain
The Metal Mountain (Kim Son) is to the west of the Water Mountain. Its largest cave is Quan Am Cave (or Lady Buddha Cave). Name of this cave originated from a rock formation (statue) which looks like Lady Buddha inside it. It’s discovered in the 1950s by a Buddhist monk who saw the Buddha in the dream (later she disappeared in the mountain). By memories, he found the cave’s entrance after that. This story is the origin of the annual Quan The Am Festival at the Marble Mountain, taking place on the 19th day of the second month in the lunar calendar. See more information & details
Tips to Visit Caves in Marble Mountain Vietnam
– Caves in the Marble Mountains are holy places in Vietnamese culture because they have temples and pagodas. It means that visitors still need to wear respectively if want to visit them (such as wearing long pants to cover upper knees, shirts covering armpits, navel, chest and shoulder, etc).
– During the rainy season, between September and January, the cave’s floor is wet and slightly slippery. Therefore, visitors need to walk carefully.
– Visitors need to climb many stairs to see caves in Marble Mountain, except Am Phu Cave. Meaning that Am Phu Cave is the easiest cave to explore.
– Do not forget to wear good shoes if want to see all of the caves in the Marble Mountains.
– To see beams of light, visitors need to go to Huyen Khong Cave at noon.
– If just want to see Linh Ung Pagoda (because an elevator is available to get there), visitors can visit Tang Chon Cave. It’s also stunning.
– Before the 14th century, caves of the Marble Mountains were used to worship Hindu gods, but nowadays, Lord Buddha and other folk deities.
– At the moment, Quan The Am Cave at the Metal Mountain (Mount Kim Son) is free to visit.
Best Caves in Marble Mountain of Da Nang
The best caves in the Marble Mountain at Da Nang are:
– Am Phu Cave (‘Hell Cave’) (the cave which served as secret hospital of communists in the war)
– Huyen Khong Cave (the cave which offers fascinating beams of lights in the noon)
– Tang Chon Cave (the cave which has many rooms connected together)
Places to Visit Near Huyen Khong Cave in Marble Mountain
Within the Water Mountain of the Marble Mountains, visitors can go to these places: Linh Ung Pagoda (Non Nuoc Pagoda), Tam Thai Pagoda, Huyen Khong Cave, Am Phu Cave, Tang Chon Cave, Van Thong Cave, Heaven Gate (Cong Troi), Thuong Thai Peak (Top of Marble Mountains), Non Nuoc Stone Carving Village, Linh Nham Cave, Xa Loi Tower, Vong Giang Dai (River Watching Pavilion), Vong Hai Dai (Ocean Watching Pavilion)…
Near the Marble Mountains, visitors can go to these places: Non Nuoc Beach (distance: 1 km), Son Thuy Beach (distance: 2 km), Tan Tra Beach (distance: 3 km), My Khe Beach (distance: 6 km), the K20 Revolutionary Base (distance: 4,5 km), BRG Golf Course (distance: 5 km), Montgomerie Links Golf Course (distance: 10 km), Hoi An Ancient Town (distance: 30 km).
Itinerary to Visit Marble Mountains for First Timer
The Water Mountain of the Marble Mountains has pagodas, caves, peaks, towers, old trees, and holy sites. They are along hiking trails started from Gate 1 (‘Tam Thai Pagoda Gate’) and Gate 2 (‘Linh Ung Pagoda Gate’) on Huyen Tran Cong Chua Street. Near Gate 2, visitors will see the elevator and use it to go up to Linh Ung Pagoda and skip the stairs to it. However, to visit other sights in the mountain, hiking is still needed. See our recommended itineraries
Guided Tours to Marble Mountains Da Nang
Here are interesting guided tours to the Marble Mountains:
– Marble Mountains Private Tour with Am Phu Cave: From Hell to Heaven
– Da Nang Cave Tour: Adventure into Caves of Marble Mountains
– Marble Mountains Half Day Tour with Linh Ung Pagoda
– Marble Mountain & Monkey Mountain Tour
– Marble Mountain & Monkey Mountain Sunset Tour
– Marble Mountain, Monkey Mountain & Hoi An Tour
– Marble Mountains, Lady Buddha & Am Phu Cave Tour
– Da Nang City Tour Full Day: Marble Mountain & Central District
– Marble Mountain & Hoi An Day Tour from Da Nang
– Marble Mountain & Hoi An Day Tour from Da Nang Port
– Marble Mountain & Hoi An Day Tour from Chan May Port
– Marble Mountain & Hoi An Night Tour from Da Nang
– Hoi An Full Day Tour from Da Nang
– Hoi An Full Day Tour from Da Nang with Chinese Speaking Guide
– Marble Mountain, Lady Buddha & Hoi An Coconut Forest Tour
– Golden Bridge/Ba Na Hills & Marble Mountain Tour
– My Son Sanctuary & Marble Mountain Tour
– Da Nang City Tour from Chan May Port
HOIAN DAY TRIP CO.,LTD daily organizes tours and transfers to Da Nang and Hoi An. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) or browse www.hoiandaytrip.com to see tours and make a reservation. Thank you very much!
Photos, Videos about Caves in Marble Mountains
Here are beautiful photos and videos about caves in Marble Mountain:
