Hanoi
3,359 km²
Washington D.C.
177 km²
Vietnam
USA
Area Comparison
Hanoi is 19.0x larger than Washington D.C.
Population Comparison
Hanoi has 11.7x more people than Washington D.C.
Hanoi is significantly larger, covering 19.0 times the area of Washington D.C.. Hanoi spans 3,359 km² (1,297 mi²) while Washington D.C. covers 177 km² (68 mi²) — a difference of 3,182 km². You could fit Washington D.C. inside Hanoi approximately 18 times.
To put Hanoi's size in perspective, its area of 3,359 km² is about 1.2x smaller than Rhode Island. Meanwhile, Washington D.C. at 177 km² is roughly the same size as Washington D.C..
In more relatable units, Hanoi's 3,359 km² is about 470,000 American football fields, 57 times the area of Manhattan, or 32 times the area of Paris. For Washington D.C., that's about 25,000 American football fields, 88 times the area of Monaco, or 52 times the area of Central Park.
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.
Washington, D.C., officially the District of Columbia and commonly known as simply Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River across from Virginia and shares land borders with Maryland to its north and east. It was named after George Washington, a Founding Father and the first president of the United States.
Often called "D.C.", Washington D.C. has an area of 177 km² and is home to 0.7 million people. The city dates back to 1790. Visitors come for White House, U.S. Capitol, Lincoln Memorial, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Washington Metro.
Washington D.C. sits on the Potomac River across from Virginia and is bordered by Maryland to its north and east
Looking beyond city limits, the Washington D.C. metropolitan area covers 14,412 km², which is 4.3x larger than greater Hanoi at 3,359 km². The Hanoi metro area is also more populous, with 8.1 million people compared to 6.3 million.
Hanoi has a population density of 2,397 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Washington D.C., with 3,898 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Washington D.C. is noticeably denser, packing 1.6 times more people per square kilometer.
This comparison spans continents — Hanoi in Asia versus Washington D.C. in North America. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Both cities share a humid subtropical climate, though local geography creates distinct microclimates in each. When it's noon in Hanoi, it's midnight in Washington D.C. — a 12-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Washington D.C. fits inside Hanoi ~18 times
Density Gap
Washington D.C. is 1.6x more densely populated
Time Difference
12 hours apart
History
Hanoi is ~780 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).
Washington D.C. covers 177 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Stockholm (188 km²), Brussels (161 km²), Buenos Aires (203 km²), Minneapolis (149 km²), or Helsinki (214 km²).
The straight-line distance from Hanoi to Washington D.C. is 13,344 km (8,292 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~16h 12m.
Want to explore more? Compare city sizes for any two cities worldwide, or share your location live with friends.