The Marble Mountains are a group of five small mountains named after the elements (earth, metal, wood, fire and water) situated just outside the city of Da Nang, Vietnam. Composed of marble and limestone, the area is famous for marble sculpture and is surrounded by shops selling an incredible variety of statuary.

The mountains themselves are riddled with caves and have been considered sacred for hundreds of years, the grottos are filled with Hindu and Buddhist sculptures (including some quite surreal and macabre depictions of hell) and there are several temples built on the top of the water mountain.

The mountains make a lovely day trip from the city and the kids loved exploring the caves and staircases leading up the mountains. Some of the cave passages were extremely narrow and steep, with tiny steps carved out of the stone and several with almost vertical scrambles through tiny gaps! The boys were in heaven but mummy struggled with carrying Simmi up!