Ho Chi Minh City
2,061 km²
Jakarta
662 km²
Vietnam
Indonesia
Area Comparison
Ho Chi Minh City is 3.1x larger than Jakarta
Population Comparison
Ho Chi Minh City has 1.2x fewer people than Jakarta
Ho Chi Minh City is significantly larger, covering 3.1 times the area of Jakarta. Ho Chi Minh City spans 2,061 km² (796 mi²) while Jakarta covers 662 km² (256 mi²) — a difference of 1,399 km². You could fit Jakarta inside Ho Chi Minh City approximately 3 times.
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, Jakarta at 662 km² is roughly the same size as Seoul.
Picture Ho Chi Minh City another way: its area is large enough to fit about 289,000 American football fields, 35 times the area of Manhattan, or 20 times the area of Paris. Jakarta, by comparison, equals about 93,000 American football fields, 190 times the area of Central Park, or 11 times the area of Manhattan.
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.
Jakarta, officially the Special Capital Region of Jakarta, is the de facto capital and largest city of Indonesia, with administrative status equivalent to a province. It lies on the northwestern coast of Java, borders the provinces of West Java and Banten, and faces the Java Sea to the north. Jakarta itself covers about 662 square kilometres, but the wider Jakarta metropolitan area—locally known as Jabodetabek—is among the largest urban agglomerations in the world.
Often called "Big Durian", Jakarta has an area of 662 km² and is home to 10.6 million people. The city dates back to 1527. Visitors come for National Monument Monas, Istiqlal Mosque, Kota Tua old town, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Jakarta MRT.
Jakarta has administrative status equivalent to a province as the Special Capital Region of Indonesia.
Looking beyond city limits, the Jakarta metropolitan area covers 6,392 km², which is 3.1x larger than greater Ho Chi Minh City at 2,061 km². The Jakarta metro area is also more populous, with 34.5 million people compared to 9.0 million.
Ho Chi Minh City has a population density of 4,362 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Jakarta, with 15,952 people per km², is an extremely dense urban environment. Jakarta is dramatically more crowded, with 3.7x the population density.
Both cities are in Asia, but they represent different national approaches to urban development. Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) and Jakarta (Indonesia) offer a fascinating regional contrast.
Ho Chi Minh City has a tropical savanna climate while Jakarta experiences tropical monsoon conditions.
Size Ratio
Jakarta fits inside Ho Chi Minh City ~3 times
Density Gap
Jakarta is 3.7x more densely populated
History
Jakarta is ~171 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).
Jakarta covers 662 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Hyderabad (650 km²), Toronto (630 km²), Nairobi (696 km²), Chicago (606 km²), or Seoul (605 km²).
The straight-line distance from Ho Chi Minh City to Jakarta is 1,894 km (1,177 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~2h 44m.
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