Marble Mountains

View of the Marle Mountains

View of the Mountains from Thuy Son Mountain

I’m close to wrapping up my series of entries on Central Vietnam. And as 2nd to the last entry would be one of the most fun destinations in my opinion close to the city of Danang.

Entrance to Ling Ong Pagoda Cave

Entrance to Ling Ong Pagoda Cave

After visiting My Son Sanctuary we continued our journey and headed to the famous Marble Mountains, which is a cluster of 5 mountain peaks jutting out flat lands towards the sea. The mountains are also called Ngu Hanh Son or Mountains of the Five Element since each peak represents five elements; Thuy Son (water), Moc Son (wood), Kim Son (metal), Tho Son (soil) and Hoa Son (fire). The sight itself from the main road going into the city was very interesting. It just makes you think how those mountains ended up there together when most of the landscape is flat.

Ling Ong Pagoda Cave Entrance

Cave Entrance

We went to the Thuy Son Mountain which is the highest of the five. The mountain is climbable due to the carved steps and it has the most attractions from caves and Hindu and Buddhist pagodas along the mountain trail. Judging from its height I think the mountain is around 400-500 meters if I’m not mistaken. And of course there’s an entrance of 30000 Dong ($2 USD) to maintain the place.

Ling Ong Pagodas

Ling Ong Pagodas

The climb is relatively easy and anyone, even a child can climb this mountain, this may also be due to the well placed steps and proper resting area. There, again, but fortunately a small number of vendors selling some refreshments and snacks. Some will even lend you flash lights near the cave entrance saying it’s free. I returned it though since I have my own, and you don’t really need it that much since the darkness on the main cave is only a very short distance. Besides these vendors will just ask you to buy from them after lending their flashlights.

Wall crack entrance

Wall crack entrance leading on a stairways downward

On the trail, there are some interesting pagodas, some mausoleums, and number of caves. But the most interesting cave is where the Ling Ong Pagoda shrine is located. Within the cave’s huge chamber is where the pagodas are located. The place looks majestic with all the shrines and the lighting from the top cavity which reminds me of the cathedral at Callao caves in Penablanca. The temperature is mildly cool and the place feels consecrated.

Tam Thai Pagoda

Tam Thai Pagoda

Going down on the other side of the mountain you’ll pass by more pagodas but the more impressive is the large Tam Thai Pagoda. I must admire the Vietnamese for building these structures at their height. Just shows how diligently religious they are. When you reach the ground, you’ll pass by numerous shops marble shops selling souvenir items. Before, most of the marbles from these items came from the mountains but now, they stopped the marble quarry due to its depleting supply. Most of these marbles carved came from other countries.

Tags: Caves, Danang, Marble Mountains, Mountains, Pagodas, Temples, Vietnam

Ymir Says:
October 21st, 2006 at 8:55 am

parang tomb raiders ang dating.
bilib na ako sa mga vietnamese.

jhenny Says:
October 21st, 2006 at 12:39 pm

wow!! i like the ling ong pagodas… i hoep i could visit vietnam someday

Alternati Says:
October 21st, 2006 at 7:51 pm

It’s amazing what ancient civilizations have accomplished in terms of their architecture. Carving intricate stonework inside caves. They were true artisans. Ask someone today to do that and they’ll probably throw the mallet and chisel into the next trash container.. hehe

Great Pics!

eric Says:
October 22nd, 2006 at 5:21 pm

The interior really looks like a movie set. Awesome!

cruise Says:
October 22nd, 2006 at 5:43 pm

$2 dollars! mura na yun sa ganyang scenery na makikita mo. tama si ymir parng ito yung mga makikita sa mga pelikula tulad ng tomb raider at indiana jones. ganda ng panoramic picture, may mga bundok sa gitna ng syidad, tama ba?

samahan mo ako sa vietnam!

Tin Says:
October 22nd, 2006 at 11:23 pm

The only chance I have to see a kind of places just like what you have in your pictures *but not exactly where you at right now- is through the Discovery Channel…I feel a little bit jealous for you since you already had the opportunity to see all these cool places. Leave your mark behind so I can trace your footsteps where you’ve been through…

More journeys to come…..

marco Says:
October 23rd, 2006 at 10:42 am

ayos ah ang ganda… pelikula rin ang naisip ko kaso kung fu movie naman

lupet ng adventure… buti dito kasama kme hehe

lagal[og] Says:
October 23rd, 2006 at 2:49 pm

uy, maganda na naman itong series na ito. kahit mag-stay home ka muna this halloween, dami mo namang napuntahan na bro! kaka-inggit, hahaha. lupet!

ralphT Says:
October 23rd, 2006 at 2:50 pm

nice nice nice!!

rayts Says:
October 23rd, 2006 at 3:16 pm

your images depict both tranquility and nostalgia. alam mo yung tipong pagnakita mo dami mo agad maiisip. yan din nararamdaman ko everytime i visit a new place, there this urgency to immediately own it. to capture it in my mind and goes with it the experinece and thrill of actually being there.

i hope to see Vietnam with my own two eyes too, and hopefully experience what you had. astig ng mga photos. i particularly love the last two photos…

i was just wonderin’…this traveling, is it work-related or merely to feed the mind, an itch to know what’s on the other side? excuse such indulgence.

lino Says:
October 23rd, 2006 at 4:23 pm

i love the first pic, parang ang ganda ng panoramic view ng lugar…
sarap siguro magpunta dyan pag marami kayo…
someday sana makatapak din ako dyan…. great series ferdz.