The Marble Mountains were named by the French after analyzing the chemical element of the mountain's soil, not by the Vietnamese. It is known as Ngu Hanh Son (The Five Element Mountains) in Vietnamese. As a result, the cluster consists of five distinct mountains, each named after one of the five basic components of existence (according to Eastern philosophy): Kim Son (Mt. Metal), Moc Son (Mt. Plant), Thuy Son (Mt. Water), Hoa Son (Mt. Fire), and Tho Son (Mt. Soil).
The five mountains, named by King Minh Mang, were previously a popular resort for either the noble classes or anchorites, a Japanese school of Mahayana Buddhism emphasizing the virtues of meditation and institution, to establish sanctuaries.
