Ho Chi Minh City
2,061 km²
Hong Kong
1,114 km²
Vietnam
China
Area Comparison
Ho Chi Minh City is 1.9x larger than Hong Kong
Population Comparison
Ho Chi Minh City has 1.2x more people than Hong Kong
Yes — Ho Chi Minh City is 1.9x larger than Hong Kong by area. Ho Chi Minh City spans 2,061 km² (796 mi²) while Hong Kong covers 1,114 km² (430 mi²) — a difference of 947 km².
To put Ho Chi Minh City's size in perspective, its area of 2,061 km² is roughly the same size as Tokyo (city proper). Meanwhile, Hong Kong at 1,114 km² is about 1.2x the size of Berlin.
In more relatable units, Ho Chi Minh City's 2,061 km² is about 289,000 American football fields, 35 times the area of Manhattan, or 20 times the area of Paris. For Hong Kong, that's about 156,000 American football fields, 19 times the area of Manhattan, or 11 times the area of Paris.
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.
Known as "Saigon", Ho Chi Minh City covers 2,061 km² with a population of 9.0 million. The city was established in 1698. Ho Chi Minh City is known for Independence Palace, Bitexco Financial Tower, War Remnants Museum, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is 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.
Hong Kong is a special administrative region of China. Situated on China's southern coast just south of Shenzhen, it consists of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and the New Territories. With 7.5 million residents in a 1,114-square-kilometre (430 sq mi) territory, Hong Kong is the fourth-most densely populated region in the world.
Often called "Pearl of the Orient", Hong Kong has an area of 1,114 km² and is home to 7.4 million people. Its history stretches back to 1841. Visitors come for Victoria Harbour, Victoria Peak, Star Ferry, and much more. Getting around is easy with the MTR Hong Kong.
Hong Kong squeezes 7.5 million residents into 1,114 km2, making it the world's fourth-most densely populated region.
Ho Chi Minh City has a population density of 4,362 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Hong Kong, with 6,652 people per km², is a densely populated city. Hong Kong is noticeably denser, packing 1.5 times more people per square kilometer.
Both cities are in Asia, but they represent different national approaches to urban development. Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) and Hong Kong (China) offer a fascinating regional contrast.
Ho Chi Minh City has a tropical savanna climate while Hong Kong experiences humid subtropical conditions.
Density Gap
Hong Kong is 1.5x more densely populated
History
Ho Chi Minh City is ~143 years older
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).
Hong Kong covers 1,114 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Lagos (1,172 km²), San Antonio (1,209 km²), Rio de Janeiro (1,221 km²), Dallas (997 km²), or Abu Dhabi (972 km²).
The straight-line distance from Ho Chi Minh City to Hong Kong is 1,509 km (938 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~2h 17m.
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