Marble Mountain or Monkey Mountain: Which is Better?

First of all, we have to say that both Marble Mountains and Monkey Mountain (Son Tra Peninsula) in Da Nang are worth visiting. So, if have time, let’s see all of them. As a Buddhist or believer, we strongly believe that you are willing to be at their pagodas and pray. It’s needed at least 4 hours to spend for transport and sightseeing if you are a first timer.

If have to choose one, here are our thoughts:                   

– Those who do not want to climb many stairs, should go to the Monkey Mountain’s best sights – Linh Ung Pagoda and Lady Buddha. Although an elevator is available, the staircase to worth-seeing places is still steep and challenging.                            

– If interested in hiking/trekking or an outdoor adventure, the Marble Mountains offer less difficult trails and may be suitable for nearly all levels. The top of this mountain is 108 meters above the surrounding. Some hundreds of stairs are needed to climb to see it. Meanwhile, the accessible peak of Monkey Mountain is around 700 meters. Hiking to this spot requires hours and much effort (visitors must exercise frequently once they want to climb here). Thanks to higher elevation, the view from here is also more amazing than the ones in the Marble Mountains. Even from the Lady Buddha, scenic outlooks offer more stunning scenery.

– The Marble Mountains bring more historical, cultural, archaeological and religious values to visitors. At the foot of these hills, local inhabitants have made sculptures by stone since the 16th-17th century. Meanwhile, temples and pagodas in the Monkey Mountain (Son Tra Peninsula) are recent, so less important.

– To visit Monkey Mountain (Son Tra Peninsula), it’s free. Meanwhile, visitors need to pay 40,000 VND in 2024 and an extra 15,000 VND to take the elevator each way.

– The Marble Mountains are between Da Nang city and Hoi An. If stay in Da Nang, it’s more convenient to go to and then sightsee the Marble Mountains than the Monkey Mountain (Son Tra Peninsula). If want to see the highlights of Monkey Mountain, Linh Ung Pagoda and Lady Buddha, visitors need to spend at least 30-45 minutes to get there.

– At the Monkey Mountain, visitors can find monkeys, but won’t have a chance in the Marble Mountains. Kids absolutely will be interested if hear this news!

– At the Marble Mountains, visitors can discover many caves and hidden passages where it’s possible to see ancient temples, bats or spectacular beams of light at noon. This underground experience is worth doing! See more information & details

– If not interested in Buddhism (because you have a different belief), the Marble Mountains still have a collection of majestic caves and peaks for you to visit. In the Monkey Mountain, the views are worth watching.

– Shopaholics have more chances to go shopping in the Marble Mountains than the Monkey Mountain. Here, Non Nuoc Stone Carving Village has many shops owned by local carvers who have made fine art sculptures and accessories for sale. The tradition of stone carving here has been 400 years already.

– It’s possible to ride the motorbike around or to the top of the Monkey Mountain (Son Tra Peninsula). In the Marble Mountains, climbing stairs is the only way.