Marble Mountains, located seven kilometers from downtown Da Nang, comprises five limestone peaks known as Ngu Hanh Son in Vietnamese. These peaks represent the five elements: Kim (metal), Thuỷ (water), Mộc (wood), Hoả (fire), and Thổ (earth). Throughout the centuries, Marble Mountains has held significant importance for the people of Central Vietnam. The ancient Cham culture regarded these karsts as a sacred site, while Vietnamese emperors from Hue and legendary generals often paid visits, contributing to its legendary status.
Today, Marble Mountains boasts an intricate network of caves, tunnels, towers, and pagodas, constructed by Mahayana Buddhists and the Nguyen Dynasty Kings. These structures and shrines blend seamlessly with the natural surroundings: vines dangle from above, fragrant frangipani and poinciana trees scatter their blossoms on stone paths, and the pagodas’ ornate roofs gleam under the tropical sun. This captivating setting easily captures the imagination.
