Ho Chi Minh City
2,061 km²
London
1,572 km²
Vietnam
UK
Area Comparison
Ho Chi Minh City is 1.3x larger than London
Population Comparison
Ho Chi Minh City has 1.0x more people than London
Yes — Ho Chi Minh City is 1.3x larger than London by area. Ho Chi Minh City spans 2,061 km² (796 mi²) while London covers 1,572 km² (607 mi²) — a difference of 489 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, London at 1,572 km² is about 1.4x smaller than Tokyo (city proper).
Ho Chi Minh City's footprint is roughly about 289,000 American football fields, 35 times the area of Manhattan, or 20 times the area of Paris — pick whichever unit feels intuitive. London works out to about 220,000 American football fields, 27 times the area of Manhattan, or 15 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.
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of 9.1 million people in 2024. Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Western Europe, with a population of 15.1 million. London stands on the River Thames in southeast England, at the head of a 50-mile (80 km) tidal estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a major settlement for nearly 2,000 years.
Nicknamed "The Big Smoke", London has an area of 1,572 km² and is home to 9.0 million people. It was established in 43. Visitors come for Big Ben, Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace, and much more. Getting around is easy with the London Underground.
London has been a major settlement for nearly 2,000 years, tracing its roots back to Roman times around 47 AD.
Looking beyond city limits, the London metropolitan area covers 8,382 km², which is 4.1x larger than greater Ho Chi Minh City at 2,061 km². The London metro area is also more populous, with 14.3 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. London, with 5,712 people per km², is a densely populated city. Both cities have comparable density, though London is slightly more compact.
This comparison spans continents — Ho Chi Minh City in Asia versus London in Europe. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Ho Chi Minh City has a tropical savanna climate while London experiences oceanic conditions. Winters differ dramatically: Ho Chi Minh City stays around 27°C while London drops to 5°C. When it's noon in Ho Chi Minh City, it's 5:00 AM in London — a 7-hour time difference.
Density Gap
London is 1.3x more densely populated
Time Difference
7 hours apart
History
London is ~1,655 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).
London covers 1,572 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Bangkok (1,569 km²), Bogotá (1,578 km²), São Paulo (1,521 km²), Johannesburg (1,644 km²), or Mexico City (1,485 km²).
The straight-line distance from Ho Chi Minh City to London is 10,194 km (6,334 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~12h 30m.
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