Marble Mountains

Five beautiful limestone peaks, known as the Marble Mountains, rise above the beach north of Hoi An and south of Danang. Over the centuries the dong (caves) in the Thuy Son Peak have been turned into temples and shrines. The first to use them were the Cham, who converted them into Hindu shrines. The Buddhists have since taken over, adorned, sanctified, and inhabited them.

The climb up the path leading to the various cave-pagodas is not particularly strenuous, unless attempted in the middle of a hot, sunny day, when it is preferable to take the 30,000d elevator that takes you two-thirds of the way to the top.