All Roads lead to Gravel.

RideBikes Cycling Culture
Feb 26
3 min read

I will never forget that feeling.

It was the autumn of 2006. I pedaled into the woods for no reason other than curiosity. The air smelled of damp leaves and soil. The light flickered through the trees. Gravity took over on the descents, and my tires skittered across loose rock just at the edge of control.

That moment — that delicate balance between fear and flow — has shaped everything since.

For years, road cycling in Hanoi gave us glimpses of it. But the city has changed. Traffic has thickened. Speeds have risen. The margin for error has shrunk. What was once inattentive driving now often feels aggressive, impatient, and entitled. Road riding today demands hyper-vigilance rather than joy.

So perhaps it’s time to return to where many of us first learned to love the bike.

To the woods.

Gravel riding isn’t new. It’s simply under-spoken in Hanoi. And yet, within reach of the city, there are several proper playgrounds waiting to be explored.

1) Soc Son Gravel Loop

33 km of pure off-road joy

Soc Son is the most familiar name when Hanoi cyclists talk about dirt. And rightly so. It’s a gravel rider’s and XC MTB rider’s playground: interconnected trail networks, varied surfaces, and coffee shops conveniently located near the trailheads.

The main loop features three sustained climbs averaging 6–12%, none exceeding 250 m of elevation gain. Expect:

Gradual grinders
Short, punchy ramps
Loose rock, roots, and ruts
Occasional loamy, flowy sections

The descents range from smooth and rhythmic to technical and rocky — enough variety to keep both newer gravel riders and experienced XC riders engaged.

Distance from ridebikes.cc: 32 km
Difficulty: Moderate to High

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E1kiPtcjRA

2) Ba Vi Gravel Loop

Most cyclists know Ba Vi for its HC road climb — 12 km with roughly 1,100 m of elevation gain to the summit. What fewer riders explore is the gravel trail network that wraps around the mountain.

The off-road route begins on the eastern side with a 4 km climb averaging 10%. From there, the trail crests around 550 m elevation and transitions into rolling, flowy sections before dropping steeply down the western side.

The descent is serious: 6 km at average grades of 12–15%. It demands good braking control and line choice.

After the technical section, the loop relaxes into rolling village roads circling the northern base of the mountain back toward the start. Alternatively, you can arrange pickup on the western side if you prefer a point-to-point adventure.

We strongly recommend riding East → West. Climbing the steep western descent would be far less enjoyable.

Distance from ridebikes.cc: 55 km
Difficulty: Moderate to High

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MRBn0eGhhk

3) Nui Be Gravel Loop

This is the lesser-known playground — partly because access is less straightforward, and partly because it hasn’t yet been fully explored.

The ride begins brutally: a 4 km climb averaging 15%, with ramps touching 24%. It’s a wall. The effort takes you to roughly 650 m elevation, followed by short rolling sections around the mountain.

The full descent on the far side remains uncharted territory for us. There are no clear Strava heatmaps, and during our last attempt we turned back due to time constraints.

One thing is certain: this is not terrain you want to navigate after dark.

We’ll update this route once we complete the full loop.

Difficulty: High

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9819_01ZBo

4) Red River Gravel

Not everyone wants to climb walls.

If your idea of gravel is steady pedaling, open skies, and quiet off-road cruising, the Red River network is ideal. The terrain is mostly flat, weaving through plantations and along the alluvial plains beside the river.

It’s gentle on the legs and lungs. A perfect recovery ride.

Just avoid sections where garbage is being burned.