Marble Mountain - Very Hot but Worth the Trip

We hired a motorbike and driver each, and got ourselves a trip from Hoi An  to the other side of Danang to visit Marble Mountain, and the close by beautiful China Beach.

A large statue of Buddha carved into a smaller cave at Marble Mountain

After a short distance, but slow journey on Vietnam roads and traffic, we were dropped off at a marble sculptor shop nearby the entrance to the mountain – and made our way up the steep 200+ stairs to the top of the mountain. There is an elevator for a fee if you don’t like the stair option. Its 15,000 dong per person ($0.75 USD) this gives you entrance to wander the mountain as long as you like. It takes about 2 hours to explore everything properly.

Marble Mountain from a distance. Surrounding Marble Mountain are about a million stores selling marble sculptures, jewellery, and anything you can possible think of that can be made of marble.

There are several temples, and about 5 caves spread out throughout the mountain. The tracks around the place, especially to the very top viewing point – are pretty rough going with skinny tunnels out of the cave, to steep, and slippery marble rocks to climb, so be prepared for a bit of an off road hike if you want to view these parts. It is worth the view!

Climbing out of the cave to the top of the mountain. It was very-very hot.

Inside many of the caves are various Buddhist statues, hand carved straight from the natural marble in the cave – still connected to the main cave walls and floor. Just amazing to stand in front of it realize the huge size of these statues, and the time it would of taken to create.

Very large statue of Buddha carved into the cave at Marble Mountain

A lot of the caves have little openings through to the outside, and you can see the rays of sunlight, just beaming down deep into the cave with some beautiful lighting effects.

It’s such an amazing sight to visit, and only half an hour from Hoi An. Just be prepared for the heat trooping up and around the mountain! J 

On top of one of the mountain peaks. If we look hot it's because we were. Maybe we went through 4 litres of water while we were there.

While so close by, we then visited China Beach, still mostly uninhabited and peacefully natural and empty  for now, but there are literally hundreds of resorts being built at the moment, so it’s soon to be inundated with tourists. 

At China Beach wearing a motorbike helmet.

Dave's helmet didn't fit him at all. Our motorbike driver said his was the first head that that helmet didn't fit, ever.

All of our photos from Marble Mountain and Hoi An can be viewed here:  https://picasaweb.google.com/117257906652666550268/HoiAn?authuser=0&feat=directlink

Cheers for Now - 

Pamela and Dave