The easiest way: a tour with hotel pickup
Half-day tours from Hoi An pair the mountains with the Lady Buddha on Sơn Trà or with Âm Phủ cave, and longer days add the temple ruins of My Son. A guide explains the caves and shrines, and the transport is all arranged. For more options, see tours.
From Hoi An: My Son Sanctuary & Marble Mountains Guided Tour
A guide takes you round the Cham temple ruins of My Son, a UNESCO site, and the caves of Thủy Sơn.
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Picks you up in Hoi An for the mountains, Âm Phủ cave and the Sơn Trà peninsula in one morning.
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Going on your own
By Grab or taxi
Book a Grab car (or another ride-hailing app) to Ngũ Hành Sơn and choose the elevator gate (thang máy) if you want to skip the first climb. It takes about half an hour. Getting back is just as easy: book a ride back to Hoi An from the gate once you've finished. For a group, a driver for the half-day who waits while you explore works well.
By scooter
If you're confident on a scooter, it's one of the easiest rides in the area. Head out towards An Bàng beach, turn left onto the coast road (Lạc Long Quân, which becomes Võ Nguyên Giáp) and keep the sea on your right until the mountains appear on your left. It's flat and paved all the way. There's parking by the gates. You need a valid licence for Vietnam and a helmet, as anywhere in the country.
Stop on your way to or from Da Nang
The mountains sit right between the two cities. If you're moving between Hoi An and Da Nang, or heading to Da Nang airport, book a private transfer with a stop of an hour or two at the mountains. Your bags stay in the car, and it costs little more than the transfer alone. Tell the company you want the stop when you book.
By local bus
Local buses between Hoi An and Da Nang pass the mountains, and they're the cheapest option. Your hotel can tell you the current route and where to get off.
When to go from Hoi An
Leave Hoi An around 7 a.m. and you'll be climbing in the cool of the morning and back in town for lunch. The other good slot is late afternoon, then back to Hoi An for the lanterns after dark. Opening hours are on tickets and hours.
Common questions
Is it worth the trip from Hoi An?
Yes. It's close, easy to reach and nothing like the old town: caves with shrines inside, pagodas and views over the coast. Two to three hours on site is enough for most people.
Should I combine it with anything?
The Lady Buddha on Sơn Trà is the classic pairing, and most tours do both. If you're going on to Da Nang anyway, stopping at the mountains on the way saves you a separate trip.
What should I wear?
Shoes with grip for the stone steps and cave floors, and clothes that cover shoulders and knees for the pagodas and shrines.