Dubai
4,114 km²
Ho Chi Minh City
2,061 km²
UAE
Vietnam
Area Comparison
Dubai is 2.0x larger than Ho Chi Minh City
Population Comparison
Dubai has 2.7x fewer people than Ho Chi Minh City
Yes — Dubai is 2.0x larger than Ho Chi Minh City by area. Dubai spans 4,114 km² (1,588 mi²) while Ho Chi Minh City covers 2,061 km² (796 mi²) — a difference of 2,053 km².
To put Dubai's size in perspective, its area of 4,114 km² is roughly the same size as Rhode Island. Meanwhile, Ho Chi Minh City at 2,061 km² is roughly the same size as Tokyo (city proper).
In more relatable units, Dubai's 4,114 km² is about 576,000 American football fields, 70 times the area of Manhattan, or 39 times the area of Paris. Ho Chi Minh City works out to about 289,000 American football fields, 35 times the area of Manhattan, or 20 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.
Ho Chi Minh City, also known as Saigon, is the most populous municipality of Vietnam, with a population of more than 14 million in 2025. Its geography is defined by rivers and canals, of which the largest is Saigon River. As the largest financial centre in Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City has the largest gross regional domestic product out of all Vietnam provinces and municipalities, contributing around a quarter of the country's total GDP.
Also known as "Saigon", Ho Chi Minh City has an area of 2,061 km² and is home to 9.0 million people. The city dates back to 1698. Visitors come for Independence Palace, Bitexco Financial Tower, War Remnants Museum, and much more. Getting around is easy with the HCMC Metro (opening 2024).
Ho Chi Minh City is Vietnam's largest financial center and contributes around a quarter of the country's total GDP.
Dubai has a population density of 809 people per km² — a relatively spread-out city. Ho Chi Minh City, with 4,362 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Ho Chi Minh City is dramatically more crowded, with 5.4x the population density.
Both cities are in Asia, but they represent different national approaches to urban development. Dubai (UAE) and Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) offer a fascinating regional contrast.
Dubai has a hot desert climate while Ho Chi Minh City experiences tropical savanna conditions. When it's noon in Ho Chi Minh City, it's 9:00 AM in Dubai — a 3-hour time difference.
Density Gap
Ho Chi Minh City is 5.4x more densely populated
Time Difference
3 hours apart
History
Ho Chi Minh City is ~135 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).
Ho Chi Minh City covers 2,061 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Shenzhen (1,997 km²), Tokyo (2,194 km²), Riyadh (1,798 km²), Cape Town (2,455 km²), or Houston (1,725 km²).
The straight-line distance from Dubai to Ho Chi Minh City is 5,625 km (3,495 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~7h 7m.
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