Hanoi
3,359 km²
Istanbul
5,461 km²
Vietnam
Turkey
Area Comparison
Hanoi is 1.6x smaller than Istanbul
Population Comparison
Hanoi has 1.9x fewer people than Istanbul
In terms of area, Istanbul is 1.6x the size of Hanoi. Istanbul spans 5,461 km² (2,109 mi²) while Hanoi covers 3,359 km² (1,297 mi²) — a difference of 2,102 km².
To put Hanoi's size in perspective, its area of 3,359 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Rhode Island. Meanwhile, Istanbul at 5,461 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Shanghai.
Picture Hanoi another way: its area is large enough to fit about 470,000 American football fields, 57 times the area of Manhattan, or 32 times the area of Paris. For Istanbul, that's about 765,000 American football fields, 92 times the area of Manhattan, or 52 times the area of Paris.
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.
Known as "City Between Rivers", Hanoi covers 3,359 km² with a population of 8.1 million. The city was established in 1010. Hanoi is known for Hoan Kiem Lake, Old Quarter, Temple of Literature, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Hanoi Metro.
Hanoi encompasses 3,358.6 square kilometers and had a population of nearly 8.8 million as of 2025.
Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey, constituting the country's economic, cultural, and historical center. With a population of over 15 million, it is home to 18% of the population of Turkey. Istanbul is among the largest cities in Europe and in the world by population. It is a city on two continents; about two-thirds of its population live in Europe and the rest in Asia.
Also known as "City on Two Continents", Istanbul has an area of 5,461 km² and is home to 15.5 million people. Its history stretches back to 660 BC. Visitors come for Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Istanbul Metro.
Istanbul is one of the only major cities to span two continents, with about two-thirds of its population living in Europe and the rest in Asia.
Looking beyond city limits, the Istanbul metropolitan area covers 5,461 km², which is 1.6x larger than greater Hanoi at 3,359 km². The Istanbul metro area is also more populous, with 15.5 million people compared to 8.1 million.
Hanoi has a population density of 2,397 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Istanbul, with 2,831 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Both cities have comparable density, though Istanbul is slightly more compact.
This comparison spans continents — Hanoi in Asia versus Istanbul in Europe. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Hanoi has a humid subtropical climate while Istanbul experiences oceanic conditions. When it's noon in Hanoi, it's 8:00 AM in Istanbul — a 4-hour time difference.
Time Difference
4 hours apart
History
Istanbul is ~1,670 years older
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).
Istanbul covers 5,461 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Shanghai (6,341 km²), Perth (6,417 km²), Dubai (4,114 km²), Guangzhou (7,434 km²), or Karachi (3,527 km²).
The straight-line distance from Hanoi to Istanbul is 7,416 km (4,608 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~9h 13m.
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