Da Nang: Marble Mountain Caves & Hoi An Ancient Town Boat Ride

Marble Mountain's Five Peaks & Hoi An's Lantern-Lit Streets in One Afternoon

You're picked up from your hotel at 1:30 p.m. and driven to Marble Mountain, where you take an elevator up and walk through five limestone peaks, caves, and pagodas with an English-speaking guide. After that, you head to Hoi An Ancient Town to see the Japanese Bridge, heritage houses, and a cultural museum, then take a 20-minute sampan boat ride at dusk before visiting the night market or dining on your own. All entry fees, the boat ride, and your private transfer are included, and you're back at your hotel by evening.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Marble Mountains1h 30m · entry included
2. Hoi An Ancient Town1h 30m · entry included
3. Japanese Covered Bridge10m · entry included

Marble Mountains and Hoi An tour

• Pick up from hotel
• Take elevator up Water Mountains
• Visit Xa Loi Tower and Linh Ung Pagoda
• Explore Tang Chon Cave and View Point
• Visit Huyen Khong Cave
• See Am Phu Cave and learn Buddhism
• Visit Japanese Covered Bridge
• Walk Old Town streets and heritage houses
• Explore Chinese Assembly Hall and museum
• Visit central market
• Enjoy 20-minute boat ride at early night
• Visit night market and see lanterns
• Return to hotel

The experience

The elevator doors open at 1,500 feet, and you step straight into the kind of view that makes you understand why locals call this place the symbol of Da Nang. Marble Mountain rises about 8 kilometers southeast of the city. Five limestone peaks named after the elements: water, wood, metal, fire, earth. Your guide meets you at your hotel around 1:30 p.m. and drives you there, then the real walking starts. You'll take the elevator up to the Water Mountain, visit Xa Loi Tower and Linh Ung Pagoda, move through Tang Chon Cave where light filters through openings in the rock, then climb to a viewpoint where you can actually see all five peaks at once. It's not a casual stroll (there are stairs, some steep sections), but the pace is yours, and your guide explains the history as you go, including how Huyen Khong Cave served as a Viet Cong hospital during the war. Am Phu Cave comes next, the one locals call Hell Cave, where the guide talks about Buddhist philosophy and the concept of karma while you're standing inside a space that feels genuinely old.

After Marble Mountain, you head to Hoi An Ancient Town, a UNESCO site about 30 kilometers away. The old town is narrow streets and wooden shophouses, and your guide walks you through the Japanese Covered Bridge (the one that appears on every postcard), then into a traditional Vietnamese house and a Chinese Assembly Hall. The museum explains the cultural layers: Chinese, Japanese, French influence all stacked into one small town. You've got time to wander the back alleys, and then comes the part that stays with you: a 20-minute sampan boat ride on the Thu Bon River at dusk, when the water reflects the buildings and the light is soft. After that, you can either head to the night market to see the famous Hoi An lanterns lighting up (they're colorful, crowded, genuinely worth the walk), or grab dinner on your own. Your driver brings you back to your hotel once you're done, usually by 9 or 10 p.m.

The whole day is private, which means no waiting for other groups and no rushing through the caves because someone else is tired. Your guide speaks English and knows the stories: the war history, the Buddhist philosophy, why the town was built the way it was. The entrance fees and elevator tickets are already included, as is the boat ride and the water. You're not stopping to buy souvenirs or sitting through a sales pitch. It's just the sites, the walking, the guide, and the driver who gets you there safely.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and private transfer with a safe driver.
• entrance tickets for Marble Mountain, all caves, and Hoi An Ancient Town.
• elevator ticket at Marble Mountain.
• 20-minute sampan boat ride on the Thu Bon River.
• English-speaking tour guide.
• bottled water.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 13:30

Book up to18h before

AgesAdult (12 to 90 years) · Child (5 to 11 years) · Under 5: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Moderate physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats available

Operated by Andy Private Tours and Transfers

Is this one for you?Choose this if you want to see both Marble Mountain and Hoi An in one afternoon without arranging separate transport, buying tickets at each site, or timing the boat ride yourself: the private pickup and fixed schedule handle all three, leaving you free to focus on the caves, the old town, and the river at dusk.

Traveler reviews

5.00★★★★★★★★★★

29 verified traveler reviews

5 ★29

4 ★0

3 ★0

2 ★0

1 ★0

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 11 years). Children under 5 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What time does the tour start and how long does it last?

Pickup is at 1:30 p.m. from your hotel in Da Nang or Hoi An. The full tour runs about 6 to 7 hours, ending around 9 or 10 p.m. depending on how long you spend at the night market or dinner.

Is the elevator at Marble Mountain included?

Yes. The elevator ticket, all cave entry fees, and the Hoi An entrance ticket are included in the tour price.

How difficult is the walking at Marble Mountain?

There are stairs and some steep sections, but the pace is set by your group. You'll need at least a moderate level of fitness to comfortably visit all the caves and viewpoints.

What is included in the Hoi An part of the tour?

Your guide takes you through the Japanese Covered Bridge, a traditional Vietnamese house, a Chinese Assembly Hall, and a cultural museum. You also get a 20-minute sampan boat ride on the Thu Bon River at dusk.

Is dinner included?

No. You can eat at the night market or choose a restaurant on your own. The tour ends after the boat ride, so you have the option to dine independently.

Do I need to arrange my own transport to Marble Mountain?

No. Private hotel pickup and drop-off are included, as is all transport between Marble Mountain and Hoi An.

What language is the guide?

The guide speaks English and will explain the history, Buddhist philosophy, and cultural significance of each site.