Dubai
4,114 km²
Hanoi
3,359 km²
UAE
Vietnam
Area Comparison
Dubai is 1.2x larger than Hanoi
Population Comparison
Dubai has 2.4x fewer people than Hanoi
Dubai is significantly larger, covering 1.2 times the area of Hanoi. Dubai spans 4,114 km² (1,588 mi²) while Hanoi covers 3,359 km² (1,297 mi²) — a difference of 755 km².
To put Dubai's size in perspective, its area of 4,114 km² is roughly the same size as Rhode Island. Meanwhile, Hanoi at 3,359 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Rhode Island.
Dubai's footprint is roughly about 576,000 American football fields, 70 times the area of Manhattan, or 39 times the area of Paris — pick whichever unit feels intuitive. Hanoi works out to about 470,000 American football fields, 57 times the area of Manhattan, or 32 times the area of Paris.
Dubai is the most populous city in the United Arab Emirates and the capital of the Emirate of Dubai. It is on a creek on the southeastern coast of the Persian Gulf. As of 2025, its population stands at 4 million, 92% of whom are expatriates. The wider urban area includes Sharjah and has a population of 5 million people as of 2023, while the Dubai–Sharjah–Ajman metropolitan area has a population of 6 million people.
Known as "City of Gold", Dubai covers 4,114 km² with a population of 3.3 million. The city was established in 1833. Dubai is known for Burj Khalifa, Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Mall, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Dubai Metro.
Dubai's population reached 4 million in 2025, with 92% of residents being expatriates rather than UAE nationals.
Hanoi is the capital and second-most populous municipality of Vietnam. It encompasses an area of 3,358.6 km2 (1,296.8 mi2), and as of 2025 has a population of 8,807,523. Hanoi had the second-highest gross regional domestic product of all Vietnamese provinces and municipalities at US$48 billion in 2023, behind Ho Chi Minh City. It hosts 78 foreign embassies, the headquarters of the Vietnam People's Army (VPA), its Vietnam National University system, and other governmental organizations.
Often called "City Between Rivers", Hanoi has an area of 3,359 km² and is home to 8.1 million people. The city dates back to 1010. Visitors come for Hoan Kiem Lake, Old Quarter, Temple of Literature, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Hanoi Metro.
Hanoi encompasses 3,358.6 square kilometers and had a population of nearly 8.8 million as of 2025.
Dubai has a population density of 809 people per km² — a relatively spread-out city. Hanoi, with 2,397 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Hanoi is noticeably denser, packing 3.0 times more people per square kilometer.
Both cities are in Asia, but they represent different national approaches to urban development. Dubai (UAE) and Hanoi (Vietnam) offer a fascinating regional contrast.
Dubai has a hot desert climate while Hanoi experiences humid subtropical conditions. When it's noon in Hanoi, it's 9:00 AM in Dubai — a 3-hour time difference.
Density Gap
Hanoi is 3.0x more densely populated
Time Difference
3 hours apart
History
Hanoi is ~823 years older
Dubai covers 4,114 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Karachi (3,527 km²), Hanoi (3,359 km²), Istanbul (5,461 km²), Cairo (3,085 km²), or Lima (2,672 km²).
Hanoi covers 3,359 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Karachi (3,527 km²), Cairo (3,085 km²), Dubai (4,114 km²), Lima (2,672 km²), or Moscow (2,511 km²).
The straight-line distance from Dubai to Hanoi is 5,162 km (3,208 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~6h 34m.
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