Marble Mountains tour: caves, Lady Buddha, Monkey Mountain

Climb through marble caves to the tallest Lady Buddha statue in Vietnam

A small-group morning tour of Marble Mountains, Am Phu Cave and Monkey Mountain in Vietnam with hotel pickup, English-speaking guide, Vietnamese lunch and entrance fees included. The route climbs 146 steps to Xa Loi Tower, then 136 more to the cave system (an elevator is available for the first section at your own cost), and ends at Monkey Mountain to see the country's tallest Lady Buddha statue. The tour runs about five hours and suits travelers with moderate fitness who want cultural and natural sites without arranging transport or entry tickets themselves.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Marble Mountains and Monkey Mountain

• Pick up and drive 90 minutes
• Visit Marble Mountains and Am Phu Cave
• Explore Linh Ung and Lady Buddha statue
• Visit Non Nuoc Stone Sculpture Village
• Lunch break for 20 minutes
• Return drop off

The Experience

The tour starts with hotel pickup and a 90-minute drive to Marble Mountains, a cluster of five limestone and marble peaks honeycombed with caves and temples. You climb through the first set of steps to Xa Loi Tower, then continue into the Am Phu Cave system—the real draw of the site—where the passage opens into chambers carved by water and shaped by centuries of worship. The guide explains the Buddhist significance of each space as you move through them.

After the caves, the route takes you to Non Nuoc Stone Sculpture Village, where local artisans work marble into statues and decorative pieces. You'll see the craft in action before heading to Monkey Mountain (Linh Ung), home to the tallest Lady Buddha statue in Vietnam—a landmark visible across the region. The statue sits on a hilltop temple complex, and the guide walks you through the religious stories tied to the site. Lunch is Vietnamese local food, eaten during a 20-minute break built into the schedule.

The climbing is real: 146 steps to the first stop, then 136 more to reach the caves. An elevator covers the first stretch if you need it, though it costs extra. The whole day runs five hours door-to-door, with an English-speaking guide, air-conditioned transport, entrance fees and a bottle of water all included. Small groups keep the pace manageable and the guide's attention focused.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off.
• English-speaking guide.
• entrance fees for Marble Mountains and Am Phu Cave.
• Vietnamese local food (morning tour).
• air-conditioned vehicle.
• bottle of water.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Venus Travel

Is this one for you?Pick the morning tour if you want lunch included; choose the afternoon sunset tour if you prefer to explore the caves and marble formations in late-day light without a meal.

Traveler reviews

4.90★★★★★★★★★★

2,093 verified traveler reviews

5 ★1,946

4 ★111

3 ★24

2 ★8

1 ★4

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What's the difference between the morning tour and the afternoon sunset option?

The morning tour includes Vietnamese lunch; the afternoon sunset tour has no meal. Both visit the same sites—Marble Mountains, Am Phu Cave and Monkey Mountain—and both include hotel pickup and the English guide.

How many steps am I actually climbing to see the caves?

You climb 146 steps from the base of Marble Mountain to Xa Loi Tower, then 136 more steps to reach the Am Phu Cave system. An elevator is available for the first 146 steps if you pay for it separately.

Can I add Hoi An city or the Coconut Jungle to this tour?

Yes—one of the purchase options combines this Marble Mountains tour with visits to Coconut Jungle and Hoi An city, so you can extend the day if you want more sites.

Is the Lady Buddha statue worth the trip to Monkey Mountain?

The Lady Buddha on Monkey Mountain is the tallest statue of its kind in Vietnam and sits in a temple complex with views across the region. The guide explains the Buddhist stories connected to it, and the site appeals especially to visitors interested in religion and culture.

What's included in the price, and what costs extra?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, the English guide, entrance fees for Marble Mountains and Am Phu Cave, Vietnamese lunch (morning tour only), air-conditioned transport and a bottle of water are all included. The elevator up the first 146 steps costs extra if you choose to use it; tips for the guide and driver are optional.