Ho Chi Minh City
2,061 km²
Houston
1,725 km²
Vietnam
United States
Area Comparison
Ho Chi Minh City is 1.2x larger than Houston
Population Comparison
Ho Chi Minh City has 3.9x more people than Houston
In terms of area, Ho Chi Minh City is 1.2x the size of Houston. Ho Chi Minh City spans 2,061 km² (796 mi²) while Houston covers 1,725 km² (666 mi²) — a difference of 336 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, Houston at 1,725 km² is roughly the same size as London.
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. Houston works out to about 242,000 American football fields, 29 times the area of Manhattan, or 16 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.
Houston is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Texas and the Southern United States. It is the fourth-most populous city in the United States, with a population of 2.3 million at the 2020 census. The Greater Houston metropolitan area, at 7.8 million residents, is the fifth-most populous metropolitan area in the nation and second-most populous in Texas. Located in Southeast Texas near Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, Houston is the county seat of Harris County.
Also known as "Space City", Houston has an area of 1,725 km² and is home to 2.3 million people. Its history stretches back to 1836. Visitors come for NASA Johnson Space Center, Space Center Houston, Houston Astros, and much more.
Houston is the fourth-most populous US city with 2.3 million residents at the 2020 census, leading the entire South.
Ho Chi Minh City has a population density of 4,362 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Houston, with 1,333 people per km², is a relatively spread-out city. Ho Chi Minh City is dramatically more crowded, with 3.3x the population density.
Density Gap
Ho Chi Minh City is 3.3x more densely populated
History
Ho Chi Minh City is ~138 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).
Houston covers 1,725 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Riyadh (1,798 km²), Johannesburg (1,644 km²), Bogotá (1,578 km²), London (1,572 km²), or Bangkok (1,569 km²).
The straight-line distance from Ho Chi Minh City to Houston is 14,925 km (9,274 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~18h 4m.
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