Marble Mountains (Ngu Hanh Son) Da Nang 2026: Tickets, Caves & Tips

Five marble hills, hidden cave temples and a sea-and-city panorama — all 20 minutes from central Da Nang and right on the road to Hoi An.

Last updated: June 2026

The visit, in 30 seconds

What: five marble & limestone hills named after the five elements; you visit Thuy Son (Water Mountain).
Where: ~9 km southeast of Da Nang, on the way to Hoi An — an easy half-day or a stopover.
Cost: Thuy Son entry ~40,000 VND ($1.60); elevator ~15,000 VND one-way skips 156 steps.
When: go early — lots of steps, little shade. Allow 2–3 hours.

In this guide
1. Marble Mountains: The Basics
2. Tickets, Hours & The Elevator
3. What to See on Thuy Son
4. Am Phu Cave: Heaven & Hell
5. Getting There & Best Time
6. Practical Tips

The Marble Mountains (Ngu Hanh Son) are a cluster of five marble and limestone outcrops rising straight out of the coastal plain south of Da Nang. Inside the largest — Thuy Son — you’ll find cave temples lit by shafts of daylight, centuries-old pagodas and viewpoints over the beach and city. It’s one of Da Nang’s signature half-day trips and sits conveniently on the route to Hoi An. This guide covers tickets, the elevator, the best caves and pagodas, how to get there and exactly what to expect. (New to the area? Start with our complete Da Nang guide.)

Marble limestone peaks rising above the coastal plain — The Marble Mountains rise straight out of the plain just south of Da Nang, on the road to Hoi An. (© Chainwit. / CC BY 4.0)

1. Marble Mountains: The Basics

The site is a group of five hills, each named after one of the five elements in Vietnamese cosmology:

Thuy (Water) – the biggest and the only one set up for visitors, with caves, pagodas and viewpoints.
Kim (Metal), Moc (Wood), Hoa (Fire) × 2, Tho (Earth) – smaller, mostly not developed for tourism.

So when people say “I’m going to the Marble Mountains,” they almost always mean Thuy Son. It’s about 9 km southeast of central Da Nang, in the Ngu Hanh Son district, right beside Non Nuoc beach and on the main road toward Hoi An.

💡 The hills are protected, so the famous marble carvings sold at the base are now made from stone sourced elsewhere — fine as souvenirs, just don’t expect to buy a chunk of the mountain.

2. Tickets, Hours & The Elevator

Entry is cheap; the only real question is whether to take the steps or the elevator.

Item	Price (2026)	Notes
Thuy Son entrance	≈ 40,000 VND ($1.60)	Main ticket; children discounted
Am Phu (Hell) Cave	≈ 20,000 VND ($0.80)	Separate ticket, worth it
Elevator (one-way)	≈ 15,000 VND ($0.60)	Skips the 156-step climb up
Opening hours	~7:00–17:30 daily	Go early to beat heat & crowds

💡 Take the elevator up and walk down — you get the views without the sweaty climb, then explore the lower caves on the way out.

3. What to See on Thuy Son

Thuy Son packs a lot into a small area. The highlights:

🕳️ Huyen Khong Cave

The star: a vast cavern with a natural skylight that drops beams of sun onto Buddhist shrines. Atmospheric and cool.

🛕 Tam Thai & Linh Ung Pagodas

Centuries-old working temples set among the rocks, with incense, statues and quiet courtyards.

🌅 Vong Hai Dai Viewpoint

A short scramble to a panorama over Non Nuoc beach, the coastline and the Da Nang skyline.

Stone steps and pagoda among karst rock — Thuy Son is a maze of stone steps, cave shrines and pagodas — wear good shoes. (© Raita Futo / CC BY 2.0)

4. Am Phu Cave: Heaven & Hell

The separate Am Phu (Hell) Cave is the quirkiest part of the visit. It’s themed around the Buddhist afterlife: a steep path climbs toward a “heaven” opening with light and views, while another descends into a dim “hell” lined with carved depictions of punishments.

Bring a phone light — parts are genuinely dark.
The climb to “heaven” is steep and tight in places; skip it if you’re not steady on steps.
It’s a short detour (20–30 min) and a memorable contrast to the serene pagodas above.

5. Getting There & Best Time

It’s an easy trip from anywhere on the coast:

From Da Nang centre (~9 km): a Grab car is ~80,000–120,000 VND ($3–5), about 20 minutes.
On the way to Hoi An: it sits roughly halfway, so it makes a perfect stop — see our Hoi An guide.
Best time: arrive at opening (~7am). It gets hot and crowded by mid-morning, and there’s little shade on the steps — check our Da Nang weather guide for the season.

💡 Pair it with nearby Non Nuoc beach for a swim afterwards, or combine it with Ba Na Hills over two days for Da Nang’s two big “mountain” experiences.

View over the coast from a mountain viewpoint — From the summit viewpoints you look out over Non Nuoc beach and the city skyline. (© Dominic Nelson / CC BY-SA 4.0)

6. Practical Tips

Wear proper shoes: it’s stone steps and slightly slippery cave floors — no flip-flops.
Dress modestly: these are active temples; cover shoulders and knees out of respect.
Time needed: 2–3 hours is comfortable for Thuy Son plus Am Phu Cave.
Marble village (Non Nuoc): at the base you’ll find carving workshops — nice to browse, and they can ship larger pieces home.
Bring water: there are vendors, but it’s humid work.

Frequently asked questions

Q. How much does it cost to visit the Marble Mountains?

Thuy Son entry is about 40,000 VND ($1.60), the Am Phu (Hell) Cave is ~20,000 VND extra, and the optional elevator up is ~15,000 VND one-way.

Q. How long do you need at the Marble Mountains?

About 2–3 hours is enough to see Thuy Son’s caves, pagodas and viewpoints plus the Am Phu Cave.

Q. Should I take the elevator or the steps?

Take the elevator up (it skips 156 steps) and walk down — you keep the views but avoid the hot climb.

Q. How do I get to the Marble Mountains from Da Nang?

A Grab car covers the ~9 km in about 20 minutes for ~80,000–120,000 VND ($3–5). It’s also a natural stop on the way to Hoi An.

Q. What’s the best time of day to go?

Right at opening (~7am) — it gets hot and busy by mid-morning and there’s little shade on the steps.

Q. Is it worth visiting the Marble Mountains?

Yes — atmospheric cave temples, real pagodas and a great coastal viewpoint for a tiny ticket price, all close to the city.

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