In our previous blog “A Complete Guide To Marble Mountain (Pt.1)”, we have taken you on a journey to visit the Marble Mountains. Do you remember our trip to Xa Loi Tower, Linh Ung Pagoda, Sea Watching Tower and Tang Chon Cave?

In this last part, we will take you to visit the next best spots of the Marble Mountains, including Van Khong Cave, Thuong Thai Peak, and Huyen Thong Cave!  

1. Van Thong Cave

Van Thong Cave can be easily reached by foot from Vọng Hải Đài (Sea Watching Tower). This cave is located on a high cliff. From the mouth of the cave to the sky, it is approximately 40 meter high.

The entrance to Van Thong Cave. 

A quick look into Van Thong Cave. 

For most unique feature about Van Thong Cave, there is a rugged path at the end of the cave. Only one person can climb out of this path to reach the Heaven Gate. It is a very challenging yet rewarding climb. You will be able to see the impressive and beautiful view of Non Nuoc sea and the mountainous area on top of the Heaven Gate. 

A rugged path to reach the Heaven Gate.

The beautiful view when you reached the heaven gate.

From the heaven gate, you can take the stairs down to the relaxation area. The stairs are surrounded by the forest, which creates a mesmerizing and relaxing road to walk down. 

A lovely path from the Heaven Gate to the Relaxation Area

At the relaxation area, you can recharge with refreshing beverages, fresh coconut and snacks at reasonable prices (0.5 – 2 USD). Then you can decide your next spots, whether you want to go for Linh Nham Cave, Thượng Thái Peak, Huyền Không Cave.

2. Đỉnh Thượng Thái (The Highest Peak)

If you decide to go for Thuong Thai Peak, we recommend you to take a good break before the climb because the path to reach the highest peak is quite steep with many steps. We estimate that it would take 250 – 300 steps to reach the destination. 

From the relaxation area, you will find a path to reach the highest peak.

Although the path is quite steep and the stairs feel endless, we are excited to hike because of the amazing view on top of the peak. The views are absolutely fantastic, even more than the Heaven Gate and Sea Watching Tower because we are at the highest spot.

The view on top of Thuong Thai Peak - don’t forget to take pictures to mark your impressive achievements.

3. Linh Nham & Huyen Khong Cave

Unlike other caves, Ngu Hanh Son caves are unique in its formation since the caves are located on mountains. There are no limestone karsts hanging from the cave ceiling. The caves are often spacious, flat and bright. These features are very well reflected in Linh Nham and Huyen Khong Cave. 

Linh Nham Cave worshipped three gods: Ngoc Hoang, Nam Cao and Bac Dau. There is a folk tale that every December 23rd of the lunar calendar, these gods visit  the humans are facing and help them with their magical capabilities.

A quick look into Linh Nha Cave 

Huyen Khong Cave is one of the largest caves in the Marble Mountains, an ancient sanctuary guarded by Buddha gods. There is a Buddha God – Phật Thích Ca of 3 meter high placed in the center of the cave. There are smaller temples placed on the left and right that worship Ngoc Phi to bring in the wealth and Loi Phi to bring in the health for people. Many years ago, during the war, the Vietnamese army base used this cave as a secret hidden place to plan strategies, train soldiers, and treat injured soldiers.

Huyen Thong Cave is the most beautifully mysterious cave in the mountain. 

4. Tam Thai Pagoda

From Huyen Khong Cave, it is very easy to reach Tam Thai Pagoda. Tam Thai pagoda has a long history, being self-proclaimed and a long-standing Buddhist relic of 12 monk leader generations. Inside the pagoda, the monks will conduct the Buddha’s ceremony. This would be an interesting experience for Buddhist visitors.

Tam Thai Pagoda – a long history of holding Buddism value 

Now that we are coming to an end of our trip to visit the Marble Mountains, thank you for reading our blog. If you did visit the Marble Mountains, what are your thoughts and what are your favorite spots? If you haven’t, we hope our blogs have inspired you to visit the Marble Mountains and Da Nang.

Love from Da Nang!

Eco Green Travel Team

Are you a traveler who want to discover about Da Nang’s culture and history? Or are you looking for outdoor activities since you want to spend time being close to the nature? If so, we recommend you to visit the Marble Mountains, where you can find ancient culture in the majestic beauty of nature.

The Marble Mountains is a collection of five limestone mountains and named after the five elements: Kim (metal), Thuỷ (water), Mộc (wood), Hoả (fire) and Thổ (earth). These rocky mountains comprise of pagodas, caves, and shrines dedicated to Buddha.

1. How to get to the Marble Mountains from Eco Green Boutique Hotel?

The Marble Mountains is 6.4 kilometers away from Eco Green Boutique Hotel. Located on 52 Huyen Tran Cong Chua street, which is very close to Non Nuoc Beach, the mountains are easy to reach by bikes in 30 minutes, or by taxis, and motorbikes in 15 minutes.

2. Fees

• Entrance fee to Water Mountain is VND 40,000 (US$ 2.00).
• Elevator fee (optional): VND 15,000 (US$ 0.75). If the weather is very hot, we recommend you using the elevator services so that your energy is not drained down due to the heat.
• Entrance fee to Hell Cave for VND 40,000 (US$ 2.00).

3. The Best Time to Visit the Marble Mountains

The best time to visit the Marble Mountains is in the spring season from February to May, and in the summer season from June to September. In the spring, the weather is dry with a very nice temperature around 25 – 26 °C, blue skies and a cool breeze.

In the summer, the temperature ranges from 30 – 36  °C, which might make you feel hesitated to do mountain hiking. However, in the early morning from 7:00 – 9:00 and in the late afternoon from 16:00, the temperature is lower, which makes your hikes much more relaxing. To prepare for the trip, make sure that you have enough water for hydration, comfortable clothes, hiking shoes. Do remember that the opening hours is 7:00 AM – 5:30 PM daily.

From the end of October to the end of November, the Marble Mountains is not in its ideal condition due to the rainy weather.

We have a spring day hiking on top of the Marble Mountain and enjoying the magnificent view of the blue ocean.

4. Things to do at the Marble Mountains

When you arrive at the Marble Mountains, there are two options for you: either to hike up by taking the stairs, or to take the elevator situated in Gate 2. To explore every spot in the Marble Mountains, you would need approximately two hours.

Here is a map to navigate around the Marble Mountains.

The elevator is located in Gate 2. 

4.1 Xá Lợi Tower

If you decide to take the elevator, you will be taken to Xa Loi Tower. Once you get out of the elevator, you will see a beautiful view of the Non Nuoc Beach and the mountains surrounded by the local neighborhoods.

The view when you reach Xa Loi Tower

The tower is 28 meter high, has 7 floors and 6 sides. The tower represents the core values of Buddhism. For example, the 7 floors represent the 7 types of human emotions, including happiness, anger, love, resentment, greediness, hatred, and delusion. The 6 sides represent the 6 senses: vision, hearing, taste, smell, touch, and perception. Inside and outside the tower, there are more than 200 Buddha statues.

The architecture in Xa Loi Tower represents the religious values of Buddhism

4.2 Linh Ứng Pagoda

Linh Ung Pagoda is below Xa Loi Tower once you take a few stairs down. The pagoda has a long history from the Gia Long king era around the 17th century; hence, the pagoda is already hundreds of years old. The pagoda is a sanctuary of Buddha statues and golden plates inscribing the King’s demand to name the pagoda.

Local people usually show their gratitude in front of the Buddha statues by kneeling, bowing, and meditating. What we find most lovely about Linh Ung Pagoda is the ambience that balances between religion, history, nature, and people.

Outside Linh Ung Pagoda, a momentous Buddha statue is situated in a botanical garden.

4.3 Tàng Chơn Cave

The meaning of “Tang Chon” is a place that contains all the truths of the universe. The cave has a small valley that is about 10m long, 7m wide. The cave ceiling is open towards the sky, which facilitates the circulation of the wind and brings down the temperature. Inside there is a shrine to worship gods that bring happiness and luck to people.

Tang Chon Cave is situated in the back of Linh Ung Pagoda

4.4 Hải Đài Tower (Sea Watching Tower)

To reach Hải Đài Tower, you can walk to the south from Tang Chon Cave. When you discover the tower, you might feel like you have found a magical hidden spot in the middle of the mountain. The view from Sea Watching Tower is magnificent as the tower is located up high, where you can see the city, Non Nuoc beach and Cu Lao Cham in a picture frame made of natural trees. 

The view from Sea Watching Tower is magnificent as the tower is located up high.

Remarks

The first part of a complete guide to visit the Marble Mountains will end here. We, Eco Green Travel Team, hope that our local knowledge inspires you to visit this beautiful mountain. There are many interesting aspects about Marble Mountain that we will introduce in A Complete Guide to Marble Mountains (Pt.2). Stay tuned for the upcoming blog! 

Da Nang has a long coast of more than 10 kilometres, having more than ten fantastic beaches. With so many choices, you may be wondering which one fits your beach style the best. Our Eco Green team has gone on trips to different beaches in Da Nang to find the best five beaches in Da Nang. We hope that after reading this blog, you can find your favorite beach in Da Nang! 

1. My Khe Beach: For a vibrant atmosphere   

Location: My Khe Beach is the most easily accessible as it is located in the main street, Vo Nguyen Giap St. From Eco Green Boutique Hotel, it takes approximately 2 – 5 minutes walk to reach the beach. From the city centre, it will take you about 10 minutes by car.

Highlight: My Khe Beach, commended as one of the six most attractive beaches by Forbes, is famous for its blue sky, smooth white sand, gentle waves, and clear water. It has an excellent selection of beach activities: such as parasailing,  surfing, or jet skiing. Sunbathing is a must-do if you are looking forward to a relaxing day on the beach. If you want to rent a beach seat, the price is approximately 40,000 – 50,000/day.

The surrounding area has modern facilities such as hotels, convenience stores, and on-beach restaurants that serve fresh seafood and fresh beer for affordable prices. My Khe Beach is truly a natural gem in the middle of a modern city. 

Best time of day to visit:  The best time to go for a swim is in the morning when the water is crystal clear and there are little waves coming in. The evening is exciting with a variety of beach bar activities. If you are into a bustling beach atmosphere, don’t miss it!

Price: Free to access

2. Bac My An: For a laid-back and relaxed vibe

Location: Bac My An, commonly known as the beach area of the five-star resorts, is south of My Khe Beach. From Eco Green Boutique Hotel, it would take approximately 5 – 10 minutes by foot to reach Bac My An Beach.

Highlight: Are you looking for a more quiet and relaxed atmosphere, but don’t want to miss a variety of services like restaurants and surfing? Then, Bac My An is the right beach for you! It is only a short walk further south.

This beach is also less crowded with fewer activities in this area because the area is managed by the resorts. The beach has warmer water and weaker waves than My Khe Beach. Hence, Bac My An beach could be the best choice if you are on a family trip with small children.

Best time to visit in the day: Any time of the day would be great to visit this beach. Based on our experience, early morning before 7:00 AM is the best time. At this time, the water is clearest and the area is less crowded. You will feel like you are owning the beach to yourself!

Price: Free to access if you walk south from My Khe Beach

3. Son Tra Peninsula: For the adventurous spirit, leading to a hidden gem.

Location: Son Tra Peninsula is quite far north from the central My Khe Beach and is not as easily accessible by walking as to My Khe Beach.To reach the beaches located around Son Tra Mountain from My Khe Beach, you need to drive up north with either bikes, scooters, or cars. From My Khe Beach, it would take approximately 20 – 40 minutes by car, depending on your destination.

Highlight: Son Tra Peninsula has charming beaches that can’t be missed; there is a reason that Intercontinental Da Nang is located at such a strategic location. Most beaches here are not open to the public as they are managed by the resorts.

The open ones are Bai Rang, Bai But, and Tien Sa and these beaches are serene, pristine, calm, and quiet.

Best time of day to visit: Any time of the day would be great to visit this peninsula. We especially recommend going after 3:00 pm to catch the beautiful sunset falling over the city.

Price: Not free, you have pay to stay at the open beaches. For example, at Bai Rang, it would cost approximately VND 200,000 – 300,000/ day to rent a hut.

4. Non Nuoc Beach: For escaping the crowd at a quiet, calm, and tranquil hideaway.  

Location: Non Nuoc Beach is further south from My Khe Beach and Bac My An Beach. It is very close to the Marble Mountains. From Eco Green Boutique Hotel, it is approximately 6km to reach Non Nuoc Beach and it would take approximately 10 -15 minutes by motorbikes or cars.

Highlight: The beach is far away from the city; hence it is peaceful and tranquil to relax and spend your time here. Besides swimming and sunbathing, you can combine your journey to visit the Marble Mountains and the art stone handicraft villages right at the foot of the mountains. There are fewer activities in this area because the beach is quite secluded as it is located near the resorts.

Best time to visit in the day: Any time of the day would be great to visit this beach. We recommend you to combine your visit with the Marble Mountains. The best time to go to the Marble Mountains is in the afternoon after 14:00.

Price: Free to access.

5. Man Thai Beach: For an authentic local experience.

Location: Man Thai Beach is located on Vo Nguyen Giap Street, in the north of My Khe Beach and Pham Van Dong Beach. From Eco Green Boutique Hotel, it would take approximately 5 – 7  minutes by motorbikes or cars.

Highlight: While other areas are quite developed, Man Thai Beach is pristine as a fish village where the locals fish every day for fresh seafood and sell to the restaurants right across the street. If you travel to Man Thai beach at sunrise or sunset, you can get a close view of the fish for sale and a glimpse into the daily life of fisherman working on their basket boats.

Although the water is not as clear and nice compared to other beaches, Man Thai beach has a one of a kind beauty with wide, long, and smooth stretches of sand. It is most suitable if you are looking for a peaceful walk in the late afternoon.

Best time to visit in the day: Late afternoon after 4 for a walk to watch the sun going down.

Price: Free to access

Thank you for reading our blog post. What do you think of our recommendations on the five best beaches in Da Nang? Please share your thoughts by giving comments!

There are still many interesting aspects about Da Nang that we would love to introduce. Keep an eye out for “Blog 4: A Complete Guide to Marble Mountains (Pt.1)” coming soon!

Da Nang has amazing geography, food, weather, people, and much more. Here are the five best reasons to visit Da Nang, Vietnam. We hope that they will convince you to pack your bags and book your next trip to our lovely coastal city.

1 . Best time to visit Da Nang? – Anytime with two wonderful seasons

The weather in Da Nang is marvelous! The summer in Da Nang from May to September, commonly known as “dry season”, can’t be more charming with beaches in the colour palette of sapphire blue, white sands, and endless sunshine. 

Just a summer day in My Khe beach, Da Nang

If you are not familiar with the heat of a tropical country, we recommend October to April to visit Da Nang. Although this time is known as rainy season, don’t be anxious about the “bad weather”! The average temperature is comfortable at maximum 25 °C and the sea is not cold to dive in. Based on our local experience, it is sunny most of the time and the rain usually comes a few times a week, usually in the late afternoon.

2. Explore the city of mountain, sea, and river

Da Nang is the one of most worth living cities in Vietnam, a city with the harmony of mountain, sea and river. 

Speaking about the mountains, we have the marvelous Monkey Mountain and Marble Mountain, a perfect destination for nature lovers and mountain hikers. Marble Mountain, is 15 minutes drive from Eco Green Boutique Hotel. Son Tra Mountain, commonly known as “Monkey Mountain” gives you a breathtaking view over the ocean and the city. Depending on how high you would like to drive up, it would take approximately 15 – 40 minutes. And the beaches? A long coast of more than 10 kilometres offers more than ten fantastic white sandy beaches.

Make sure to check out the signature landmark of Da Nang: the symbolic Han river in the middle of the city. The Han river with four remarkable bridges represent Da Nang as a young, dynamic and developing city. The city view when standing on top of the Dragon Bridge is not to be missed! It is convenient within 10 minutes by drive.

Beautiful view on top of Son Tra Mountain

3. A convenient centre connecting to Hoi An, Hue, and My Son.

Hoi An is a lovely ancient town filled with colorful lanterns. From Eco Green Boutique Hotel, it takes approximately 30 minutes by private car or public city bus. From Hoi An, you can easily visit Cham island (Cu Lao Cham) and Bay Mau Coconut Forest in 15 – 20 minutes drive. We will introduce these destinations in our future blog posts!

Hoi An, the lovely ancient town

My Son Sanctuary is  about 70 km from the southwest of Da Nang centre. Preserving the ancient beauty of the vestiges of the Champa dynasty, My Son was recognized as a UNESCO world heritage site in 1999. From Eco Green Boutique Hotel, it takes 40 minutes to travel by private car. Unfortunately there is no public bus to this destination. Hue is our ancient capital of old Imperial Vietnam. From Da Nang, you can easily travel to Hue by public train or private car within 2 hours. The city is famous for the Imperial Citadel and tombs of the old emperors.

4. A culinary paradise

Discovering the diverse cuisine of Da Nang is a must-do! The local specialties are very tasty and represent the unique culture of central Vietnam: Mì Quảng(Quang Noodle), Bánh Tráng Thịt Heo (tasty pork and veggies wrapped in rice paper), and Banh Mi Hoi An (Hoi An baguette). Moreover, there is a wide range of tasty foreign dishes such as Korean BBQ and hamburgers. All dishes are sold at very reasonable prices (~ $2 – 5 per person).

Delicious local noodle and fresh tropical fruits.

5. Enjoy a slower pace of life with lovely local people

When visiting Danang, you will meet local people who are warm-hearted, kind, hospitable, and friendly! We are more than willing to help with directions on the street, introduce some local dishes, or any other difficulties you may have when visiting.

A quick look of who we are as a team!

There are still many interesting aspects about Da Nang that we would love to introduce. Keep an eye out for “5 Best Beaches in Da Nang” coming soon!

We have decided to launch a travel blog!

When we first opened our hotel in August 2017, we never imagined that we would meet so many wonderful guests from all around the world. Our guests frequently ask us for recommendations about interesting places to visit as well as the must-try local dishes. Therefore, our team has been exploring Da Nang to find the best places for our guests! 

A lovely visit from our American guests (Spring 2018)

Our Eco Green travel team goes on small trips in and out of Da Nang to discover the nicest destinations and experience for our guests! 

Our trip to Son Tra Mountain (Summer 2018)

If you’re wondering about visiting Da Nang or in the stages of planning your trip we hope the blog will provide you with helpful information as well as a taste of life here in Da Nang.

Stay tuned for “5 Best Reasons to Visit Da Nang” coming up next week.

~ Tạm biệt (Goodbye in Vietnamese) and hope to see you soon in Da Nang!