I engaged the driver who had taken me to Son Tra Peninsula this day again to go to the Marble Mountains. When I engaged him I did not know that the mountains are less than 5 km away from the Da Nang city centre. That being the case, I could have taken a Grab ride for less than half of what I eventually paid the cab driver! I would put down such instances to poor research on my part.
Along the way one can see tens of workshops with large number of marble statues, some of them busy making shipments. The area is known for excellent craftsmanship in stone and marble. Even though rock extractions have been banned from the mountains recently, blocks are transported from the nearby quarries for sculpting and crafts in the workshops near here.
The Marble Mountains is a cluster of five limestone and marble hills located in the outskirts of Da Nang. Each hill is named after one of the five basic elements of the universe: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. Legend has it that a dragon once flew to the Non Nuoc beach and laid an egg there. In time, the egg hatched and a beautiful girl emerged from it. The egg shell shattered into five pieces and those became the five marble mountains that are there today.
The mountains have held special significance in the spiritual and cultural significance of the Vietnamese people. The Marble Mountains are an iconic landmark of Da Nang and attract thousands of visitors each year due to their natural beauty and cultural significance. It is possible to climb 156 steps to the summit of Mount Thuy, which is the only Marble Mountain accessible to visitors. The summit allows a wide panoramic view of the neighbouring areas and the other marble mountains. All the mountains have cave entrances and numerous tunnels.
Huyen Khong is the largest and most famous of the caves in the group of mountains. The collapsed ceiling permits shafts of light to permeate the dark cavern, creating interesting spotlights within the cave. The size of the entrance belies the space within. The huge cave has a large Buddha statue and a couple of shrines. There is an underground tunnel that has eerie, demon-like sculptures depicting human sacrifice and animals.
The mountains were used as a hiding place for the Viet Cong during the Vietnam War, who even operated a hospital inside one of the mountains, despite being very close to the American Air Base. The mountains have also been a place of refuge for locals during natural disasters.
The mountains are also home to several Buddhist and Hindu temples, pagodas, and shrines that have been built into the caves and grottoes on the hillsides. Entrance fee is separate for exploring the Cave and that of the mountain and a ride up the elevator. At the top of the mountain one gets breath-taking panoramic views of the surrounding landscapes, including the Non Nuoc Beach and the city of Da Nang.
The evening was reserved for a long walk along the riverside. With the sun going down the play of colours of the setting sun on the Han River was a most memorable farewell gift from Da Nang. I walked the 600 metre Dragon Bridge to the right bank of the River. The pedestrian side of the bridge had niches were selfie takers and professional photographers could indulge without causing any harm or disruption.
The fading light and the last rays of the day's Sun played mesmerising tunes on the Han River. On the right bank of the River I walked along the Tran Hung Dao to Da Nang's own Merlion, the Ho Merlion.
While it is not an exact replica of the Singapore Merlion, it is a lion-fish hybrid representing the country’s maritime legacy. It is actually a carp-dragon, which is inspired by a popular Vietnamese tale – that of a carp fish that turns into a dragon after swimming upstream against strong currents and passing the Dragon’s gate. The Tran Hung Dao, as compared to the Bach Dang, looked like a poor cousin.
Down the road, past a few diners and souvenir shops is the small, 68 meter Love Lock Bridge. It has an arc shape and in between the Dragon Bridge and the Han River Bridge. From it location, the bridge affords beautiful views of the city’s landscape. The bridge has been in operation since 2015 and has been inspired by the many love bridges across the world. It is a place for couples to express their undying love, mark the place and lock their stories forever. Couples bring their own locks or buy a special heart-shaped lock from one of the shops with their names engraved on them. Once the lock is locked on the bridge the couple throw the keys away to signify their eternal bonding.
While I was exploring the Love Lock Bridge I came across a group of women who were dancing at one end of the bridge. A couple of them were jamming so well that I struck up a conversation with them. They were visiting from the Philippines and were fascinated by the country. They, however, bemoaned the fact that language was a barrier in enjoying the country more! Very near the Love Lock Bridge is the Happiness Cruise, which is essentially a food court, from where one can enjoy the beauty of the bridges across the Han River over food and drink.
By the time I had walked the entire length of the right bank between the Dragon and Han River Bridges, crossed them and reached the Tre Viet restaurant I could have had a full five course meal. So ravenously hungry was I! A couple of Larue beers started the preparation to imbibe a huge meal, which was a superb Sai Gon noodles with pork. A fitting end to the four day stay in the beautiful city of Da Nang.
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