Things to See & Do in Heaven Gate (Cong Troi)

At the Heaven Gate, visitors will catch lovely panoramic views to the surrounding area. So, this peak is worth visiting, although it’s needed to climb many stairs to reach it. Those who like doing an adventure or taking landscape photos, should not miss it. Because of not being on the main trail, there are not so many people knowing it if do not check the visiting map.

From the Heaven Gate, on the east side, there is the beautiful non-stop coastline stretching along the blue ocean. In particular, that is Non Nuoc Beach, one of the most famous beaches in Da Nang. It’s lined by luxury resorts set amid lush coconut forests and flower gardens. One of the resorts is towering (the one blocks the sea view from Linh Ung Pagoda). Further to the left, that is a portion of Son Tra Peninsula or Monkey Mountain. The Giant Lady Buddha Statue in this mountain, which rises up to 67 meters, can be observed on sunny days. On the horizon line, there are islands at Cham Islands, a marine park and Unesco world biosphere reserve. This archipelago is renowned for its diverse underwater life and coral reefs (perfect for snorkeling/diving), sandy beaches and fresh seafood.

On the other side (the west side), it’s possible to see new urban development projects of Da Nang, the capital of central Vietnam. In the far distances, there are high mountains belonging to the Annamite Range or Truong Son Range, the backbone of the country. Ba Na Hills is located in this chain of mountains. Watching the sunset from here is an awesome experience! Other hills of the Marble Mountains will be seen from the Heaven Gate. Each one represents one element in the Five Elements theory in Asia. There are the Wood Mountain (Moc Son), the ‘Yin’ Fire Mountain and the ‘Yang’ Fire Mountain (Duong Hoa Son and Am Hoa Son), the Metal Mountain (Kim Son), and the Earth Mountain (Tho Son). Near the mountains, there is a canal named ‘Co Co River’ (meaning ‘stork neck river’) because it’s long and narrow. Between the 15th and 19th centuries, this was an important waterway connecting Da Nang Port and Hoi An Port. Later, it’s covered by sand (until today).

From the Heaven Gate, on the south side, there are residential areas of Ngu Hanh Son district lying between the sea and the river. Tall buildings are the boundary between Da Nang city and Quang Nam province, home to Hoi An Ancient Town.

On the north side from the Heaven Gate, Thuong Thai Peak (the highest point of the mountain) and below areas of the Water Mountain can be observed. This mountain is basically a huge marble covered by plants, such as banyan trees, rabbit ear cactus. These plants can grow in poor soil, without water for a long period. Behind the rocks, there is a small portion of Da Nang city downtown, including houses, the tower of Tran Thi Ly Bridge, and Sun Wheel (one of world’s tallest observation wheels, 115 meters).

Because millions of people have visited the Heaven Gate, the rocks around it are eroded, becoming slippery. We advise wearing hiking or sport shoes and not wearing sandals to avoid dangers. Use your hands to hold other rocks or rails to keep yourself safe, especially when going with kids who like adventure.