Guangzhou
7,434 km²
Hanoi
3,359 km²
China
Vietnam
Area Comparison
Guangzhou is 2.2x larger than Hanoi
Population Comparison
Guangzhou has 2.3x more people than Hanoi
In terms of area, Guangzhou is 2.2x the size of Hanoi. Guangzhou spans 7,434 km² (2,870 mi²) while Hanoi covers 3,359 km² (1,297 mi²) — a difference of 4,075 km². You could fit Hanoi inside Guangzhou approximately 2 times.
To put Guangzhou's size in perspective, its area of 7,434 km² is about 1.2x the size of Shanghai. Meanwhile, Hanoi at 3,359 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Rhode Island.
In more relatable units, Guangzhou's 7,434 km² is about 1,000,000 American football fields, 130 times the area of Manhattan, or 71 times the area of Paris. For Hanoi, that's about 470,000 American football fields, 57 times the area of Manhattan, or 32 times the area of Paris.
Guangzhou, also known as Canton, is the capital and largest city of Guangdong in southern China. Located on the Pearl River, about 120 kilometres (75 mi) northwest of Hong Kong and 145 kilometres (90 mi) north of Macau, Guangzhou has a history of over 2,200 years and was a major terminus of the Silk Road.
Known as "Canton", Guangzhou covers 7,434 km² with a population of 18.7 million. The city was founded around 214 BC. Guangzhou is known for Canton Tower, Chen Clan Ancestral Hall, Shamian Island, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Guangzhou Metro.
Guangzhou boasts a history of over 2,200 years and served as a major terminus of the ancient Silk Road
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.
Also known as "City Between Rivers", Hanoi has an area of 3,359 km² and is home to 8.1 million people. It was established in 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.
Looking beyond city limits, the Guangzhou metropolitan area covers 7,434 km², which is 2.2x larger than greater Hanoi at 3,359 km². The Guangzhou metro area is also more populous, with 18.7 million people compared to 8.1 million.
Guangzhou has a population density of 2,513 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Hanoi, with 2,397 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Both cities have comparable density, though Guangzhou is slightly more compact.
Both cities are in Asia, but they represent different national approaches to urban development. Guangzhou (China) and Hanoi (Vietnam) offer a fascinating regional contrast.
Both cities share a humid subtropical climate, though local geography creates distinct microclimates in each.
Size Ratio
Hanoi fits inside Guangzhou ~2 times
History
Guangzhou is ~1,224 years older
Guangzhou covers 7,434 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Wuhan (8,569 km²), Perth (6,417 km²), Shanghai (6,341 km²), Melbourne (9,993 km²), or Xi'an (10,097 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 Guangzhou to Hanoi is 800 km (497 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~1h 26m.
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