Short answer
- Entry to the Marble Mountains costs 40,000 VND, the lift up Thuy Son is 15,000 VND one way or 30,000 VND return, and Am Phu cave is a separate 20,000 VND.
- The site opens 07:00 to 17:30 daily.
- Two hours covers Thuy Son properly.
- Bring cash, because the smaller cave gates do not take cards.
The Marble Mountains sit between Da Nang and Hoi An, close enough to the city beaches that you can be at the ticket gate twenty minutes after breakfast.
Five limestone outcrops, one of which you can climb, riddled with caves that have been Buddhist shrines for centuries. Here is what it costs and how to do it without wasting the morning queuing.
What does it cost to visit?
Prices are per person and are collected at different gates as you go, which catches people out.
| Ticket | Price |
|---|---|
| Site entry | 40,000 VND |
| Students | 10,000 VND |
| Children under 6 | free |
| Lift up Thuy Son, one way | 15,000 VND |
| Lift, return | 30,000 VND |
| Am Phu cave (separate) | 20,000 VND |
Cards are accepted at the main entrance but not at the smaller cave entrances inside, so carry cash. Budget around 90,000 VND per adult if you take the lift up and visit Am Phu, which is the normal full visit.
The staircase is free if you would rather not pay for the lift. It is about 156 steps. That is genuinely manageable for most people, but it is steep, uneven stone and it is hot by mid-morning.
What are the opening hours?
07:00 to 17:30, every day, all year round. There is no closed season.
Get there for opening if you can. By 09:30 the tour coaches from Hoi An and the cruise transfers arrive together, and the narrow cave passages become a queue rather than a walk.
Which mountain do you actually climb?
There are five peaks, named after the five elements. Only one is set up for visitors.
Thuy Son (Water Mountain) is the one everybody means when they say Marble Mountains. It has the lift, the pagodas, the main caves and the viewpoints.
The other four, Moc Son, Hoa Son, Kim Son and Tho Son, are largely undeveloped and you can skip them without missing anything.
Which caves are worth your time?
Not all of them are equal, and the site does a poor job of telling you which is which.
- Huyen Khong Cave. The one to prioritise. A huge chamber with shafts of daylight falling through holes in the roof onto Buddhist statues. Around late morning the light beams are at their most dramatic, which is the shot everyone comes for.
- Tang Chon Cave. Quieter, with old Cham-era carvings alongside the Buddhist figures. Most coach groups skip it, which is exactly why it is pleasant.
- Am Phu Cave (Hell Cave). Separate ticket, separate entrance near the base. A staged descent through depictions of the Buddhist underworld, then a climb up towards a “heaven” exit. It is theatrical rather than serene, and it is a genuine climb in places. Children tend to love it.
- Van Thong Cave. A narrow scramble up a rock chimney to an opening at the summit. Not for anyone uncomfortable in tight spaces, and not sensible in flip-flops.
What is the best route around Thuy Son?
The route that works, if you want the caves without the crush:
- Take the lift up (15,000 VND) to save your legs for the cave scrambles.
- Go to Huyen Khong Cave first, before the coaches. Everyone else does the pagodas first.
- Come out and do Tang Chon, which will be near empty.
- Climb to the viewpoints over the beach and the city.
- Walk down the stairs rather than paying for the return lift. Downhill is easy and you pass shrines the lift skips.
- If you still have energy, do Am Phu at the bottom on your way out.
That sequence takes about two hours at a relaxed pace.
What should you bring?
- Cash in small notes. Multiple gates, no cards inside.
- Shoes with grip. The rock is polished smooth by centuries of feet and gets slick. Flip-flops are a bad idea, particularly in Van Thong.
- Water. There are vendors, but not inside the caves.
- Covered shoulders and knees if you intend to enter the pagodas.
- A torch or phone light for the darker passages.
When is the best time to go?
Early morning, right at 07:00. Cool, empty, and you get Huyen Khong to yourself.
Late afternoon after 15:30 is the second-best window. The coaches have gone and the light on the way down is good.
Avoid 09:30 to 13:00. This is the coach window and also the hottest part of the day, on unshaded stone.
The marble carving village at the base is worth ten minutes on the way out, though be aware the large pieces are quarried elsewhere now, as the mountains themselves are protected.
How do you get there from Da Nang?
The site is on the Da Nang to Hoi An road, roughly 20 minutes south of the city beaches.
- Motorbike: simplest and most flexible, with paid parking at the base
- Grab or taxi: straightforward, around 20 minutes from the beach hotels
- On the way to Hoi An: the natural approach, since it sits directly on that route
If you are staying near My Khe beach, this is one of the easiest half-day trips available to you.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Marble Mountains entrance fee? 40,000 VND for general admission, 10,000 VND for students, free for children under 6.
How much is the elevator? 15,000 VND one way, 30,000 VND return. The staircase is free and about 156 steps.
Is Am Phu cave included in the entry ticket? No. It is a separate 20,000 VND at its own entrance.
What are the opening hours? 07:00 to 17:30, daily, year round.
How long do you need? About two hours for Thuy Son at a comfortable pace, plus roughly 45 minutes if you add Am Phu.
Can you pay by card? At the main entrance yes, at the smaller cave entrances no. Bring cash.
Is it suitable for children or older visitors? Thuy Son with the lift, yes. Van Thong cave and Am Phu involve real climbing and tight spaces, so judge those separately.
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Sources (accessed 29 August 2026):