What are the mountains in Vietnam? Vietnam: Marble Mountains in Da Nang. Marble Mountains in Da Nang. Video
The city of Sa Pa is located in the very north of Vietnam, 380 kilometers northwest of Hanoi. To be honest, I didn’t know what to expect from him; I relied on the other participants in our trip. I only heard that you need to go for two days, with an overnight stay. Therefore, what I saw there was a pleasant surprise for me.
And this is what I saw:
In Shapa I was able to see beautiful mountains, rice terraces, cute piglets, and village life. True, I didn’t see all this right away...
Let's start with the fact that I was going to write a post about the town of Sapa (Sapa in English, or Sa Pa in Vietnamese. It turns out that all the names familiar to us among the Vietnamese consist of two words: Ha Noi, Sai Gon, etc.) And only by using I learned that in Russian the city is called Shapa and not Sapa. That is, on the contrary, .
So, from Hanoi to Sa Pa is 380 km. You'll probably think - well, it's a couple of hours maximum on a normal train. I thought so too. But in Vietnam, trains are not like , they do not run at a speed of 300 km/h. So you have to travel all night, nine hours. Yes, the average speed of the Vietnamese railway is about 43 km/h. A berth in a sleeping car compartment costs $40 each way. It looks exactly the same as the Soviet coupes of my childhood (here these are considered luxury class, only tourists can afford this luxury).
Eh! If I had known that everything would look so nostalgic, I would have stocked up on cutlets and boiled eggs. I really thought that all South Asian sleeper trains were like this one.
This train does not go all the way to Shapa, but goes to the town of Lao Cai right near the Chinese border. From there you need to go to Shapa for about an hour by minibus or taxi. It is difficult to get lost here - all drivers know that tourists from trains from Hanoi go to Sapa. You shouldn’t pay more than 50,000 for a seat in a minibus, or $25 for one taxi; they say sometimes you can bargain for cheaper.
The road constantly climbs uphill. Shapa is located at an altitude of 1500m above sea level. Villages constantly flash by on the side of the road. All life here passes along the road. Here are the children going downstairs to school. This means they will have to go up home in the evening.
At the entrance to Shapa there is a lake, surrounded by beautiful houses. For a second you might think that you were in some mountain resort in Switzerland.
But this feeling quickly disappears when you arrive at the main square. Long live socialism! The people and the Party are united.
Every minibus and taxi at the entrance to the city is monitored and surrounded by aunties from the surrounding villages. They are dressed in traditional outfits. "Come with me! I'll show you my village, which is the most beautiful!" they shout vying with each other in very good English. Some even know a few words of Spanish or French.
The fact is that the mountains around Shapa are inhabited by ethnic minorities. The Hmong, Za, Zay and Tay peoples live here. Each of them has its own language, its own traditions, and villages in the area. For many centuries, these people lived by agriculture, but recently Shapa has become a tourist center, and each village is trying to attract visitors, because in this way you can earn much more money than by selling rice. Therefore, every morning, women put on their traditional outfits (the easiest way to distinguish nationalities from each other) and gather in Shapa. Everyone knows the train schedule, and they arrive just when taxi drivers start picking up tourists.
At that time, we already realized that there was nothing special to see in Shapa itself, and after a short investigation we chose the two most sociable (and persistent) aunties. They said that they were from the Hmong village of Hautao, to which we could walk through the mountains, and, if desired, spend the night there. The name of the village didn’t mean much to us, but we thought that most likely they were all similar to each other. So, meet Zuzu (left) and Mama-Chi.
We soon realized that the prefix "Mama" in the name "Mama-Chi" meant "grandmother."
"Mama-Chi has grandchildren. I don't have any yet," Zuzu explained. “But my eldest daughter is already fifteen. She is very sexy! She will soon get married, give birth to a baby, and everyone will call me Mama Zuzu.”
“Isn’t fifteen too early?” I asked carefully.
“Fine! What to expect? I met my husband when we were sixteen. And now I’m already thirty-two. It’s time to become a grandmother.”
The women took us on a trek to their village, promising that it would take four hours to walk through the beautiful mountains. They weren’t deceived about the mountains; the path invariably went up. But it was difficult to appreciate their beauty, since everything around was shrouded in heavy fog.
We soon realized that it was not so much fog as clouds. The mountains were one of those that go under the very clouds. Other aunties were walking along the path. Some led their tourists, others returned home empty-handed.
“Did you also get to the city on foot?” I asked Mama-Chi.
“No, our husbands bring us to the city on mopeds. We ourselves don’t ride them, it’s not a woman’s business.”
But Zuzu’s husband came. I still don't remember his name. She said their house was uphill from the road. It seems that the higher you go, the cheaper the “real estate” is, because it takes more effort to get up and down every day.
Mama-Chi and Zuzu have many daughters. They all gathered on the porch, and I felt a little sorry for the men - they were in a clear minority at home. Arriving home, our guides took off their traditional outfits; it turned out that underneath it all they were wearing very ordinary clothes.
By the way, the village path passes through the porch of the house - some neighbors constantly pass here, from those who live above. They say hello, ask how you are, share village news...
All my free time is spent like this on the porch... Mr. Zuzu doesn’t speak English, so while we asked the women about village life, he sat on the sidelines and carefully examined the string on my bag. I don’t want to blame anyone for anything, but towards the end of the trip I discovered that the leather cap had fallen off.
Vitya and Tolik finally decided that they had had enough of the village and asked for a taxi back to the city. And I, Zlata and Slavik decided to stay overnight to try to watch the dawn at the Tree of Life.
Mama-Chi cooked dinner for everyone. Her husband ate in his corner, not looking up from the TV. This time they showed some Chinese series there. For dinner, they served some local liquor, which Mama-Chi called “Happy-water.” The strength is around 30 degrees I think. We drank together.
There was nothing much to do in the village after dark, and after dinner everyone got ready to go to bed. We were offered "lofts" under the roof. I love sleeping upstairs.
Zlata and Slavik settled in the same one on the other side.
Instead of a bed, just a mattress, with an insect net around it. After a long day of walking and Happy-water we fell asleep almost immediately...
And woke up with roosters! I’ve always dreamed of saying so, but I’m rarely in the village, and now, finally!..
One of the daughters was already working on something in the “kitchen”. As you can see, there is no gas here, everything is very primitive. There is a fireplace, I lit a fire, boiled water...
We woke up still dark, but unfortunately the dawn at the Tree of Life did not take place due to weather conditions.
No problem! We still had to walk through the rice terraces!
This time Zuzu was not there. Mama-Chi said that she went back to Shapa to meet tourists at five in the morning. It turns out there are some trains that arrive in the middle of the night. And in her place, Zuzu sent her eldest daughter, Son. The one who's fifteen and "very sexy."
The two of them took us around the rice terraces and explained how rice is grown in general. This is a very labor-intensive process!
Rice must grow completely covered with water, so in mountainous areas terraces are needed, otherwise the water will flow away! The steeper the slopes, the more often terraces need to be built; this takes a lot of work. Therefore, flatter terrain is used first. By the way, this is why minorities like the Hmong live in the mountains - it’s the same in China, you come to the rice terraces, and there are also some people there with their own language and customs. The main ethnic group in the country long ago took all the convenient “flat” land for itself, displacing small peoples to places where it is more difficult to grow rice. But the Hmong are hard-working and adapted.
Here you can clearly see that there is water in the terraces. Where it is green, the rice is not yet ripe, when it turns a little yellow, it will be reaped, and there will be empty terraces with stems sticking out of the water.
Rice on an ear looks like this:
The cut ears are collected into bunches and tapped on a tarpaulin. This way the rice is separated from the ear.
The whole process is incredibly tedious, since the rice fields need to be maintained. Vitya said that this is precisely why Asian peoples are so hard-working. According to him, rice requires more labor and more calculation than wheat. Historically, farmers who were not prepared to plan ahead and work hard for their harvests simply starved to death.
We ended up going down to the Zantochai River, which flows along the bottom of the valley. Everything around is covered with rice fields.
There is a suspension bridge across the river. On it we almost came face to face with another buffalo that wandered there. Fortunately, the young hostess turned him around in time. It seems that driving cattle is considered an easy job in villages, so it is always entrusted to children.
On the way we passed a village of the Zai people. Their grandmothers kept trying to sell us their souvenirs. Later, returning to Shapa, we met younger aunties. I understand that in the villages only those who are too old to go to the city trade.
Our guides watched this without much interest. The weather cleared up, the sun came out, and they opened their umbrellas and led us to the next village, from where we could call a taxi back to Shapa.
By evening we were again shaking in the compartment of the slow Vietnamese train carrying us
I will immediately disappoint you so that there are no disappointments later, these mountains, of course, are called marble, and the views from the peaks are wonderful, right on the sea, there are also caves here, but alas, mountains are just one name, they are more just hills than real mountains .
Spending half a day here is more than enough, all the trails are very simple, the longest route will take about an hour. But at the same time, this is a great place to recharge your mind and body!
So, in this article I will tell you the reasons why the Marble Mountains should definitely be visited by all tourists whose route runs through Da Nang or Hoi An.
Oh yes, it’s all there, see for yourself!
The sea is just a stone's throw away
and this is Danang, with its skyscrapers,
Well, and of course, the marble mountains themselves and the view of the village around them,
This is an observation deck - an elevator for the lazy, or for those who have very little time
You can also climb to such views on your own, right through the cave, from the very bottom, up to the beauty.
2. Caves with secret paths and altars
There are 5 or 6 caves in total, we looked into 4, each has its own peculiarity, some are dead-end, some with a crevice right into the sky, 
somewhere there are temples and altars inside, 
capable of attracting the attention of tourists, 
and in some - paths to neighboring caves, for example, entering this small cave, 
you can find a hole and climb up to the observation point 
Lesha and I, both of whom are absolutely neutral in our feelings towards caves, never go to them on purpose, but these are in such easy reach, and they also involve trekking, so we stopped by for just a short while.
3. Cultural Experience – Temples and Pagodas
The Marble Mountains complex has several temples and pagodas, 
all the temples are functioning - you can look inside and admire the outside 
There is a snow-white Buddha statue 
Monks also live here, so visitors communicate not only with the gods, 
but also with living representatives of Buddhism 
4. Trekking for health
This is one of the most significant components for me; lately, if we visit any sights, it is often not with the goal of seeing, getting impressions, but simply having a good time, and even with benefits for the body and health.
You can get to the Pagoda at the top by a glass elevator, or you can climb a hundred steps, which is what we did 
Further from the pagoda there are several routes, there is a map and signs, so it’s impossible to get lost! To enjoy all the trails and summits in this park, 
It’s better to arrive early in the morning, while the sun is still soft and not so hot 
Although, even at noon you can find shady routes :) 
5. Unusual souvenirs made of marble
If you like to bring home original souvenirs and gifts, then I’m sure you can definitely find something interesting in the shops near the Marble Mountains, 
Absolutely everything is made from marble - from small crafts and trinkets to huge sculptures, statues, marble furniture, dishes and chess 
They do all this in the village at the entrance to the complex, 
every 2-3rd shop is a workshop, work is in full swing right on the street 
Here's one last thing for you, a colorful grandmother from such a shop 
Well, in the end, if you are staying in Da Nang, the mountains are within easy reach, they are 4 km from the city, and from Hoi An the drive to them is also quite close, about half an hour by motorbike or 15 minutes by car.
A ticket costs less than $1, but there are a lot of impressions :)
Marble Mountains coordinates: 16.003922,108.262854
Park map: 
Don't forget to book your hotel in Da Nang or hotels in Hoi An.
Everything interesting is always nearby :)
P.S. Have a great week everyone! Stay with us! In the next article about Vietnam we will tell you about our tour on rare Vespa scooters.
Marble Mountains(or rather hills, since they still don’t reach the mountains :) these are natural limestone-marble formations. Many years ago there was a sea here, and these hills were islands. Now the sea has gone and hills have formed, covered with lush vegetation.
Marble Mountains in Vietnam
Each of the 5 hills of the Marble Mountains has its own name: the hill of Water, Earth, Wood, Metal and Fire. Inside the hills there are caves, some of which have been home to Buddhist temples since ancient times, which are places of pilgrimage for local residents.
Previously, marble was mined in these mountains and residents of neighboring villages lived very well from this. Now it is prohibited to mine valuable rocks in the Marble Mountains, so the marble for the numerous figurines that can be bought as souvenirs near the entrance is brought from other regions.
Where are the Marble Mountains
Marble Mountains are located in Vietnam, 10 km from Da Nang airport and 20 km from the center.
Marble Mountains: how to get there
The easiest option to visit the Marble Mountains is to buy a tour, but I still recommend visiting this attraction on your own. How to get to the foot of the Marble Mountains (hills 🙂):
- On foot. This option is possible if you have settled in the southern part of Da Nang (by the way, there are excellent hotels near the mountains themselves on the seashore, I will write about them later in the article).
- By taxi. Depending on the distance – from 5 dollars
- On regular bus , which runs between Da Nang and Hoi An City. The bus goes along the road along the sea, the Marble Mountains are visible from afar, just ask the driver to stop at the stop opposite these mountains. The fare costs a penny (I won’t tell you the exact amount, I haven’t traveled this way), the bus leaves from the northern bus station of Hoi An.
- On rented bike . We rented a bike for $5 a day right next to our hotel in Hoi An.
Don't be afraid to ride a bike to the Marble Mountains. Traffic in this part of Vietnam (on the road along the sea between Hoi An and Da Nang) is very calm, unlike traffic in and even in. We drove from Hoi An to the Marble Mountains in 15-20 minutes, the road was almost empty. If you are planning to stay in Hoi An, you will find my article useful:
Parking
A few words about parking near the Marble Mountains. As soon as we turned off the road from the sea towards the sights, the Vietnamese began to rush towards us, almost under the wheels of our bike, with a desire to park our bike right next to their store or cafe. Don't pay attention, but drive further, closer to the mountain and the entrance. There you will also have to park the bike near some store. We didn’t see any official parking for bikes, but there is parking for cars 10,000 dong (0.5 dollar).
When asked how much it would cost to park a bike near a store or cafe, the Vietnamese woman said it was free, but if we bought something, what would we buy from her. Well, anyway, upon returning from the mountain, we were very thirsty and bought water and cane juice from the store. Prices are, of course, higher than in the store, but not critical. For example, a bottle of water is 15,000 dong (in the store 10,000 dong), cane juice is 15,000 dong (in other places 6,000 -10,000 dong).
We approach the entrance. On all sides there are shops with marble statues Complex operating hours
Officially, the Marble Mountains complex in Da Nang is open from 7:00 to 17:30. But no one forbids you to come later: we didn’t see any doors that could be closed at night :)
Cost of visiting the Marble Mountains
Cost of visiting Am Phu Cave – 15,000 dong (~$0.75)
Cost of visiting all caves and other structures on the largest mountain Thủy Sơn – 15,000 dong (~$0.75)
You can go up the mountain by elevator - 15,000 VND (~ $0.75) one way
For those who love hiking, there is a long, wide staircase to climb :) I choose comfort, especially in the 40-degree heat of May, so we go up the mountain by elevator :) But don’t think that once you get to the mountain you won’t have to climb further on foot. Numerous more stairs and paths lead up from the elevator.
This elevator takes you to the top of the middle of the mountain for 15,000 dong 
Hooray, there is an elevator! 🙂 
Entrance to the stairs that lead to the mountain 
For those who like to walk, there is a wide staircase leading up the mountain. We went down it. It’s not that long :) But still, I prefer the elevator! 
Our tickets to one of the marble mountains - Mount Thủy Sơn Plan diagram of the Marble Mountains complex
Plan diagram of the entire Marble Mountains complex: 5 hills 
Plan diagram of the most visited and largest mountain Thủy Sơn. Such a map can be purchased at the box office. Am Phu Cave
We visited this cave first - it happened by accident, we just parked closer to it, and not to the passage to the mountain. Then I realized that it was the right decision: after walking through the caves, temples and viewing platforms on the mountain, I would hardly go to another cave. It was Am Phu Cave that I remember most.
Let's go to Am Phu cave The entrance to the cave is decorated with marble figurines. At the entrance there are several marble benches for relaxation.
Near the entrance to the cave there are various marble figurines 
At the entrance to the cave you can relax on benches. It's so nice to sit for a few minutes in the coolness after the hot Vietnamese sun 
Crowd of sacred elders Am Phu Cave symbolizes Hell and Heaven. Immediately after entering we find ourselves in Purgatory, where they determine where to send a person: to hell or to heaven? Well, first let's go down into the thick of it, into Hell. Don't watch for the faint of heart :)
Now let's go to Paradise. The path to Paradise is not easy; you will have to overcome dozens of slippery steps. But at the very top an observation deck with an excellent view of the surrounding area awaits us!
We begin the difficult climb to Paradise 
We pass by the altar and many Buddha statues 
And here we are already at the top and looking from Heaven to Hell 
Temple at the top of the observation deck 
View of the sea from above Caves and temples on Thủy Sơn mountain
As I said above, the Marble Mountains complex in Da Nang consists of five hills, on top of which there are pagodas - temples and caves, but tourists (and us too) visit only the largest mountain, Thủy Sơn.
I really like these bright flowers! They are everywhere in Da Nang! 
Turquoise sea in the distance. It’s a pity that it’s not warm all year round, otherwise you could safely spend the winter in Da Nang 
One of the marble hills The first Van Thong cave with bats inside. After a huge hall with an altar, the cave narrows, then you need to climb through a narrow passage and preferably with a flashlight and comfortable shoes, we decided not to go further.
The Huyen Khong cave is huge with a holey “roof”; the sun’s rays break through the cracks in the rock. There are scary statues below :)
The largest cave on this mountain is Huyen Khong Cave. Cave entrance 
We go down deep into the cave 
A big white Buddha sits inside 
Place for prayer 
Scary faces 
The sun breaks through a crevice in the rock from above There are several functioning pagodas on the mountain, we even went to the territory where the monks live and rested there in the shade of the trees in complete solitude.
One of the temples on the mountain. Ton Tam Pagoda 
Linh Ung Pagoda 
Big Buddha is sitting :) 
We also went up to several observation platforms.
High in the mountains above Da Nang! 
View of the surrounding area from one of the observation decks on Mount Thủy Sơn Back we tiredly went down the stairs. Yes, it’s not an easy job to walk in the mountains and caves in the heat! I really wanted to take a cold bath :) But we moved on, exploring the sights of Da Nang :)
And another beautifully bright tree Marble Mountains in Da Nang. Video
The Marble Mountains are an unusual and interesting attraction in Da Nang and Hoi An. They are definitely worth a visit, especially if you are not spoiled by such large caves, such as the Phong Nha-Kebang caves.
- The territory of the Marble Mountains complex is large, you will have to walk a lot, expect to spend 3 hours, or even more
- Wear comfortable shoes. I saw some tourists walking barefoot and carrying their shoes in their hands :)
- Take more water. You can also buy water at the top, but the prices are higher than at the bottom
- If you plan to climb in an undeveloped part of the cave, take a flashlight with you
- Buy a map below or take a photo of the plan diagram. There are signs at the top but it's hard to know where to go
- The Vietnamese are very keen on sightseeing, so avoid visiting the Marble Mountains on weekends and holidays. And on weekdays there are a lot of people here... we arrived at 10 am and found crowds of Vietnamese tourists. But at one o'clock in the afternoon it became nice, empty, only a few Europeans were exploring the caves and temples
- Prices for souvenirs made from marble under the mountain are high, bargain, the price may fall two or three times!
There are signs on the mountain, but it’s still not easy to figure out where to go and what to see without a map. 
You can buy water and something to eat on the mountain. Tourist prices 
Xa Loi Tower Other hotels in Da Nang can be selected and booked.
Or a car, while others choose hitchhiking. Often independent travelers are faced with a choice of where to stay and what to see along the way between major cities. Here are some cool ideas.
Dalat waterfalls
Dalat(Đà Lạt)– the richest mountain region in Vietnam with waterfalls. The largest and most beautiful waterfalls in the vicinity of Dalat are surrounded by fences and ticket offices, equipped with roads and trails for tourists, paid entertainment and cafes.
Waterfall Pongur is located 45-50 km from Dalat city on the road on the way to Ho Chi Minh City. This wide waterfall is one of the most beautiful, consisting of 7 cascades flowing into the lake. If you have time along the way, it is worth stopping by the Gowgah waterfall. This is a small, but free waterfall, not very popular among tourists.
If you like comfortable relaxation and additional entertainment, go to waterfalls Prenn(about 10 km from Dalat) and Datanla(about 5 km from Dalat). Prenn Waterfall is located in a beautiful park with sculptures, bridges, benches and a temple, and additional entertainment includes boat rides, elephant or ostrich rides. This is a favorite waterfall for tourist buses, so there are a lot of people here. Datanla Falls consists of three cascades, and to get down to the lower levels, you can take a cable car, ride a trolley and ride an elevator in the middle of the jungle for an additional fee. Datanla Falls is on the way to Prenn Falls from Dalat, so you can plan both falls in one day.
Elephant Falls(about 30 km from Dalat) is a very powerful waterfall, which we advise lovers of silence and solitude with nature to go to. There are no tourist buses coming here, and the flow of people is much less. There are only a couple of cafes near the ticket office, and from the entrance to the waterfall you will have to go down huge stones with additional support on iron railings.
Price:
Pongur Falls: 20,000 vnd ($0.9)
Prenn Falls: 40,000 vnd ($1.8)
Datanla Falls: 30,000 vnd ($1.3)
Elephant Falls: 20,000 vnd ($0.9)
Phong Nha Ke Bang Caves
Phong Nha-Kebang (Vườn quốc gia Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng) – national park, a UNESCO heritage site, famous for its many caves, including the largest cave in the world Shondong. However, access to it, like to some other caves, is limited - you can only get there as part of a multi-day tour for people in good physical shape. The tour is provided by the only company Oxalis, and its price is $ 3000. Up-to-date information can be found and. But there are also caves open for independent exploration.
Caves Phong Nha And Tienshon available for inspection by water. At the box office you can purchase tickets for your favorite water transport to visit one or two caves at once. To independently visit other caves you will need a bike. Lovers of active walking should go to the cave Paradise, 1 km out of 31.4 kilometers of which is open for independent travel along a road paved for tourists. From the entrance to the cave you can walk 1.5 km along forest climbs or, for an additional fee, drive part of the distance in an electric car to save time and effort for the climb.
Thrill seekers and extreme sports enthusiasts will be interested in Dark Cave, where the entire path is illuminated by a lantern on the forehead, and this path passes through narrow tunnels. To enter the cave you will have to cross the river using a zipline, and at the end of the cave walk you can swim.
Those who want to get everything quickly and at once can visit both caves (Paradise and Dark Caves) in one busy day. Along the way, if you have time, you can stop by a cave Eight ladies- a monument to the victims of US military bombing.
Price:
Phong Nha Cave: 150,000 vnd ($6.5) + water transport fee
Tien Son Cave: 80,000 vnd ($3.5) + water transport fee
Paradise Cave: 250,000 vnd ($11)
Dark Cave: 350,000 vnd ($15)
Cave of Eight Ladies: free
Bajo Falls
25 kilometers from Nha Trang, on the way to Zoklet beach, there is a wonderful place to relax in nature, hide in the shade from the hot Vietnamese sun or, conversely, sunbathe under its rays and swim in the cool water. You can come here for just a few hours, or you can stay for the whole day. From the entrance to the waterfalls there is a 1 km long path in the jungle. It is worth stocking up on drinking water so as not to overpay for it on site. For clothing, it is advisable to have not only flip-flops and a swimsuit, but also comfortable shoes. Bajo Falls consists of three levels, and the name of the waterfall translates to “three lakes.” To climb to the upper level, you will have to climb over the stones, focusing on the red arrows. The beauty of nature and the special atmosphere of solitude can be felt even on the trail on the way to the waterfalls, so if you don’t have the strength to climb over the rocks, enjoy the beauty on the lower level, the most convenient for swimming.
Price:50,000 vnd ($2.2)
Views of the sea coast
Vietnam stretches along the sea coastline, and the mountain climbs offer unimaginable views that will take your breath away. One of the most popular viewing platforms is Haivan pass, located near the Vietnamese pillbox, where everyone who travels from Da Nang to Hue or in the opposite direction stops. However, this place is far from the most picturesque, if only because of the crowds of people and fences.
It would be much more pleasant to spend an extra day in Da Nang and devote it to a trip around the peninsula Son Tra (Sơn Trà). Traveling around the peninsula on a bike will not leave you indifferent, revealing on one side the wild jungle of the reserve, and on the other – the endless sea, changing around every new turn.
Another attractive viewing point will be Cape Dailan- the easternmost point not only of Vietnam, but of all of Southeast Asia. Here part of the beach is occupied by sand dunes, and a sea lighthouse blinks on the mountain. Entrance fee: 20,000 vnd ($0.9).
Tea plantations
Tea plantations in the vicinity of the dam Kau Kau(Đập Cầu Cau)– a very picturesque and cozy place. The mountain multi-tiered pyramids of tea trees are mesmerizing. Here you can take a boat ride and, after enjoying the nature around, have a snack in a cafe. Tea plantations are located not only around the lake, but also stretch for many kilometers along the Ho Chi Minh City highway. This is far from the most popular place among independent tourists, probably due to its remote location, so don’t be surprised if you find yourself there as the only visitor.
Price: freeTBut
Suoi Voi Springs
Springs await you 45 kilometers from Da Nang Suoi Howl (Suối Voi)- These are stone pools with cool, crystal clear water, where it is pleasant to cool off on a hot day. The springs are located in the national park Father Ma (Bạch Mã). The shape of some stones gave the springs a second name - Elephant Springs. On both sides of the stone pools there are awnings that create shade, where the Vietnamese are willing to lay down a carpet for relaxation for an additional fee. Those who want privacy or not have to pay to stay under the canopy can make their way through the deeper rocks to the distant pools. The farther from the first tents, the less noise and people. Traveling from Da Nang to Hue or in the opposite direction can be an excellent occasion to visit the Suoi Voi springs, where you can have a wonderful rest along the way. There are cafes for those who want to refresh themselves.
Price:15000 vnd ($0.7)
Marble Mountains
Marble Mountains(about 10 km from Danang, about 20 km from Hoi An) - “mountains of 5 elements” is a complex of 5 hills, each of which has the name of one of the elemental elements in the eastern horoscope: water, earth, wood, metal and fire. The largest and most interesting to visit is Mount Water. Here you can explore caves with altars and pagodas, climb to observation platforms and admire the view of the city and the sea. Part of the ascent can be done by elevator for an additional fee, but the main distances will have to be covered on foot, walking along paths and stone stairs. One of the most interesting caves is the cave Am Hu, its interior arrangement and sculptures symbolize heaven and hell. Marble products and sculptures are sold in the city. Previously, marble was mined in the Marble Mountains, but today its mining is prohibited, and marble is imported from other regions of Vietnam.
Price: 40,000 vnd ($1.8)
Hoi An
Bonus to our “natural” list – Hoi An(Hội An, about 30 km from Don Nang). This is a traditional historical open-air museum city and a UNESCO heritage site. The city has 22 major attractions: museums, ancient houses, meeting halls, chapels, a temple, a Japanese bridge, a traditional workshop and a theater. To visit any 5 attractions, you can purchase a general ticket for 120,000 vnd ($5.3). You can freely enjoy the atmosphere of the old town by walking through its streets, where more than 800 buildings are of historical significance and date back to the 16th-18th centuries, from the time when Hoi An was a major port city. In the evening, the embankment lights up with colorful lights, local barkers invite you to ride on boats, and fruit sellers in a traditional Vietnamese hat and with a wooden rocker on their shoulder offer to take a photo for free (with a subsequent request to buy fruit). Hoi An is also a “couturier city”, famous for its sewing and shoe craftsmen. Many pavilions are open in anticipation of new orders, the turnaround time is 24 hours. A visit to Hoi An can be combined with a beach holiday: the beaches are located 3-4 km from the center. You can choose housing near the beach, in the old town, or in a residential area in between. It is convenient to get around the city by bicycle: you can rent one, and they are often provided free of charge in hotels and hostels.
Price: For any 5 attractions 120,000 vnd ($5.3)
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The Marble Mountains in Da Nang are the most popular attraction in the area. The mountains are located 7 km from Da Nang. If there are not very many tourists in Da Nang itself, then groups come to the Marble Mountains not only from all over Da Nang, but also from Hoi An. What is so interesting about these mountains and how to get to them on your own.
Photo: view of the Da Nang Marble Mountains from the observation deck on Water Mountain
Marble Mountains in Da Nang
The Marble Mountains in Da Nang are several rocks in the middle of a field, overgrown with trees, shrubs and cacti. From a distance, the landscapes of the provinces of Krabi and Phang Nga in the south of Thailand resemble in miniature. Why are the mountains called so - marble? It's simple. Marble was once mined here. Now they are no longer mined, but marble products are still sold everywhere on the approaches to the mountains.
- They have caves, and a temple is built in the largest cave
- You can climb the mountains and wander along rocky paths
- You can see temples and pagodas in the mountains
- Observation platforms from which you can admire the beach and the city from above
Walking in the mountains is not difficult; you don’t need climbing equipment. There are neat paths and stone steps in the mountains. There is even an elevator that, for a fee, takes tourists to the middle of the mountain. But it’s still better to wear suitable shoes. High heels and beach flip-flops are not the best solution for the marble mountains.
Observation deck overlooking the sea
For our trip to the Marble Mountains in Da Nang, we chose a cloudy day so that it would be comfortable to walk up the steps. First of all, we climbed to the observation peak overlooking.
Refreshing wind, sound of the surf, great view. Everything would be great if it weren’t for the Vietnamese tourists who set up chicken coops everywhere around them. We all dislike Chinese tourists. So the Vietnamese are no different from them. It's good that the Vietnamese don't travel abroad like the Chinese.
Having photographed every centimeter, the Vietnamese left and all this farce finally died down. Only Europeans remained at the top. A long-awaited silence reigned. But after a few minutes the Chinese stood up. We hurried down, grateful to the summit for these few minutes of silence with civilized people.
Lookout overlooking the mountains
The second observation deck is slightly lower and is located in the Chinese gazebo on the opposite side. All tourists who visited the Marble Mountains in Da Nang have photos from this place. Katya also appreciated this view. 
Where can I order a transfer from the airport?
We use the service - KiwiTaxi
We ordered a taxi online and paid by card. We were met at the airport with a sign with our name on it. We were taken to the hotel in a comfortable car. You've already talked about your experience In this article.
Caves in the marble mountains
The second thing worth seeing on the marble mountains is the caves. We saw 3 caves and went into 2 of them. First we looked at this hollow. The cave is small and consists of two halls. In the first there is an altar with a golden Buddha. You can enter the second hall by climbing through a narrow passage. In the second compartment there is a hole in the ceiling that provides natural light. You can go somewhere further, but there is a very narrow hole there, we didn’t climb.
They couldn’t enter the second cave they noticed because of the smoke. The monks apparently overdid the fire or their supply of firewood there began to smolder.
The third cave was discovered by accident. This cave impressed us most of all with its large hall. We never expected to see such a large free space in the low mountains. It’s as if marble mountains are hollow inside.
The largest cave in the marble mountains 
A small temple was built inside the cave. Looks impressive, just like in the movies 
You can rotate the photo of the cave around you with your mouse:
The fourth cave is downstairs behind the elevator. It's called Heaven and Hell. There you can look at sculptures of people in various thematic poses. We didn't go in.
Photo panorama of the cave
Temples and pagodas in the mountains
There are also several small Chinese-style temples and pagodas built on the mountains. The history of the marble mountains has not been studied, but outwardly the temples do not look very ancient.
Our reviews
We liked the Marble Mountains in Da Nang. We didn’t regret going, it was interesting. However, the mountains left a double impression. On the one hand, it was interesting to wander along the paths, see the caves, the temple and climb to the observation decks. But on the other hand, the crowds of tourists got on my nerves. We also specifically went on a weekday. We waited until the Vietnamese and Chinese holidays ended. But still, noisy and ill-mannered Chinese-Vietnamese tourists did not provide the peace and quiet that is necessary in such beautiful places. So, it’s definitely worth going to the Marble Mountains, but you need to be prepared for crowds of tourists and not count on privacy at the lookout or near the temple.
How to get to the Marble Mountains on your own
Getting there on your own is quite easy, both from and from. All you need to do is take bus 01 Danang - Hoian, pay 20 dong for the fare and get to the mountains. We posted the route of this bus on the map in the article. The Marble Mountains will be clearly visible from the window. The conductor can say Marble Mountains or just Mountains if he asks where you are going. The main entrance is marked on the map at the end of the article. From the stop, walk about 5 minutes down towards the sea. A one-way taxi ride from the center of Da Nang will cost 150-200 thousand VND. A taxi from the beach will cost about 100 thousand dong. You can also easily get there on your bike.
- Prices: Entrance 40 thousand dong ($2), elevator 15 thousand dong ($0.75)
- Opening hours: not known exactly, but from 7 am to 5 pm you can definitely come
- Opening days: daily
- How much time to allocate: we spent about 3-4 hours here
You should take water and something to snack with you. In the mountains there are sales points and small cafes with tourist prices. For example, we drank a coconut for 40 dong when the normal price is 20-25. Shoes - sneakers are best. You won’t need anything unusual in clothing, it’s not cold there, but you can take something to cover your knees and shoulders, since there are many temples in the mountains.
Marble Mountains on the map
GPS coordinates: 16.002470, 108.262455