Van Thong Cave is one of caves in the Marble Mountains, Da Nang, Vietnam. Here, visitors can walk through a cave passage with caves at different levels. At its end, it’s possible to find the trail to one of the highest peaks of the mountain. The experience here is adventurous and stunning. In this article, HoiAn Day Trip Company provides all the information that you need to know about Van Thong Cave.
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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 Van Thong Cave
– Location/address: 81 Huyen Tran Cong Chua Street, Hoa Hai ward, Ngu Hanh Son district, Da Nang
– Name’s meaning: Van Thong means ‘leading to the cloud’
– How to pronounce:
– Other name(s): Dong Van Thong
– Opening hours: 7 AM to 5 PM daily
– Ticket price: 40,000 VND for adults & children above 10 years old, free for children below 10 years old (2024).
– Best time to visit: anytime during the day
– Duration: 20-30 mins
– Reason(s) to visit: one of the most unique caves in the Marble Mountains
– Travel blog: https://hoiandaytrip.com/van-thong-cave-marble-mountain
– Tour guide: contact +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo)
– Recognition(s): national heritage site (1990), special national heritage site (2018)
– Food & drink: yes available
– Shopping: yes available
– Fact:
Van Thong Cave on Map
What to Expect in Van Thong Cave?
Van Thong Cave is a small-but-interesting cave. Its mouth is circular, at the top of a steep staircase and nearly in the middle of a vertical limestone cliff. Inside the first chamber (exactly called Van Nguyen Coc or ‘Cloud Moon Cave’), visitors will see a standing Buddha statue that wears a yellow costume and has a ‘teaching’ hand gesture.
There is a very steep staircase leading to the next chamber of Van Thong Cave, following a crevice. Steps are small, slippery on rainy days and metal rings to hold and pull the body up are unseen at some spots. Therefore, some visitors choose to skip and return by the same way to exit and see other sights. If want to challenge yourself, please be careful, especially when traveling with kids. In the end of the crevice, it’s dark but the floor is not dangerous to walk without light.
The second chamber of Van Thong Cave has an opening ceiling (a typical character of caves in a Marble Mountain), allowing rain and sunshine to fall inside. It’s exactly known as ‘Van Thong Cave’ or ‘Cave that Leads to the Cloud’). Its floor is full of limestone cobbles which become a little slippery because many tourists walk on them. On the wall of this hidden chamber, there are two inscriptions, one showing the official name of the cave (in Chinese, carved in 1837 by request of Minh Mang king) and Ngu Uan Son Co Tich Phat Tich Diet Lac (literally ‘The joy at Nirvana of the Buddha at Ngu Uan Mountain (Marble Mountain)’), by monk Hue Dao Minh carved in 1631. The second inscription is special amongst more than 70 inscriptions in the mountain due to its decoration: a Buddhist temple. In 2022, a collection of inscriptions on the walls of the Marble Mountain was registered as Asia-Pacific documentary heritage.
In a dark corner of ‘Van Thong Cave’, visitors can find a hole. If climb up and go through this hole, the trail leading to a peak will be seen, and sure, it’s an unpopular way. The peak is at a height of 106 meters (above the plain). Local people call it ‘Heaven Gate’. Here, the 360o view is just awesome, including the coast, blue sea, the city, and rivers. See more information & details
Visitors should help each other to climb up to the hole (from Van Thong Cave) by using a phone flashlight. If somebody tries to go down, please let him or her go first.
After enjoy watching the scenery and taking pictures, visitors should use the staircase (trail) on the other side of the peak, to go to other sights. It’s steep but becomes easier and less/more dangerous when walking downstairs. At the end of the staircase, go downstairs again to see the walkway to Tam Thai Pagoda or Huyen Khong Cave or Thuong Thai Peak.
Best Time to Visit Van Thong Cave in Marble Mountains
If traveling to Da Nang and Hoi An in the dry season, from February to September, the best times to visit Van Thong Cave are early morning (before 9 AM) and late afternoon (after 3 PM). In the midday, the temperature usually is high and it’s humid. The hottest hours are between 11 AM and 2 PM. Visitors should not come in this period, to protect the skin and not to be too sweaty or tired (especially if going with kids and elders). The photos will not be perfect anymore.
Between October and January, correspondingly the wet season, the best times to see Van Thong Cave are when the rain stops or even when it’s sunny. Visitors need to check the weather forecast before going to the mountain (Googles can tell you the average temperature and change of rain in every hour of the day). Without rain, steps on the hiking trails and floor of the caves will be less wet, slippery and dangerous (but the cave floor is still dirty!).
In the high tourist seasons, around the end of April to August (mostly local tourists) and around November to February (mostly foreign tourists), there’re many group tours.
Tips to Visit Van Thong Cave in Marble Mountain
– The staircase to the entrance of Van Thong Cave is steep and slipper in the rainy season.
– From the first chamber to the second chamber of Van Thong Cave, the staircase is really steep and small.
– In the second chamber of Van Thong Cave, it’s possible to find a hole to reach the Heaven Gate (a peak), but good fitness is required to crawl up.
– The best time to visit Van Thong is the noon when stairs are dry and the rooms are brighter.
– In the dry season, from February to the end of August, visitors should bring sun cream, sun glasses, hat/cap/umbrella, comfortable clothes, and bottles of water.
– In the wet season, from September to January, visitors should bring rain poncho/jackets, umbrellas, sandals or waterproof shoes.
– Bring cash (VND) to pay for entry fee, drinks, and food.
– It’s better to visit Van Thong Cave at Marble Mountains with a local guide. Contact us by +84968009827 (hotline/whatsapp/line/zalo) to book.
Places to Visit Near Van Thong 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).
How to Get to Van Thong Cave in Marble Mountain
Van Thong Cave is in the Marble Mountains at 81 Huyen Tran Cong Chua St, Hoa Hai ward, Ngu Hanh Son district, Da Nang. In particular, this cave is in the Water Mountain, the largest mountain of the complex. To go to the Water Mountain, visitors can walk (if stay in beachside resorts), take a car/minivan/bus, ride the bicycle or motorcycle, and use public transport.
Because Van Thong Cave is at the top of the Water mountain, so visitors need to climb stairs to get to it. Here are three routes to get there:
– Route 1: Climbing stairs from Gate 2 (108 steps) to Linh Ung Pagoda, and then keep climbing until seeing a natural rocky gate. After going through it, keep following the trail and then look to the left, to see the entrance of Van Thong Cave (in the front of a beverage store, have a sign to realize).
– Route 2: Getting the elevator from Gate 2 and then walking past Xa Loi Tower, keep climbing until seeing a natural rocky gate (do not go downstairs to the pagoda!). After going through it, keep following the trail and then look to the left, to see the entrance of Van Thong Cave (in the front of a beverage store, have a sign to realize).
– Route 3: Climbing stairs from Gate 1 (156 steps) to Tam Thai Pagoda, and then keep hiking along the trail behind this pagoda, until seeing a natural rocky gate. After going through it, keep following the trail and then look to the right, to see the entrance of Van Thong Cave (in the front of a beverage store, have a sign to realize).
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!
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 Van Thong Cave
Here are beautiful photos and videos about Van Thong Cave in Marble Mountain:
