Ho Chi Minh City
2,061 km²
Manila
43 km²
Vietnam
Philippines
Area Comparison
Ho Chi Minh City is 47.9x larger than Manila
Population Comparison
Ho Chi Minh City has 4.9x more people than Manila
Yes — Ho Chi Minh City is 47.9x larger than Manila by area. Ho Chi Minh City spans 2,061 km² (796 mi²) while Manila covers 43 km² (17 mi²) — a difference of 2,018 km². You could fit Manila inside Ho Chi Minh City approximately 47 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, Manila at 43 km² is about 1.4x smaller than Manhattan.
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. Manila works out to about 6,000 American football fields, 88 times the area of Vatican City, or 21 times the area of Monaco.
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.
Manila, officially the City of Manila, is the capital and second-most populous city of the Philippines after Quezon City. According to the 2024 census, it has a population of 1,902,590 people. Located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay on the island of Luzon, it is classified as a highly urbanized city. With 44,935 inhabitants per square kilometer (116,380/sq mi), Manila is one of the world's most densely populated cities proper.
Nicknamed "Pearl of the Orient", Manila has an area of 43 km² and is home to 1.9 million people. It was established in 1571. Visitors come for Intramuros walled city, Rizal Park, Manila Bay, and much more. Getting around is easy with the LRT & MRT Manila.
Manila has 44,935 inhabitants per square kilometer, making it one of the world's most densely populated cities proper.
Looking beyond city limits, the Ho Chi Minh City metropolitan area covers 2,061 km², which is 3.3x larger than greater Manila at 620 km². The Manila metro area is also more populous, with 13.9 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. Manila, with 43,023 people per km², is one of the most densely packed urban areas on Earth. Manila is dramatically more crowded, with 9.9x the population density.
Both cities are in Asia, but they represent different national approaches to urban development. Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) and Manila (Philippines) offer a fascinating regional contrast.
Both cities share a tropical savanna climate, though local geography creates distinct microclimates in each.
Size Ratio
Manila fits inside Ho Chi Minh City ~47 times
Density Gap
Manila is 9.9x more densely populated
History
Manila is ~127 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).
Manila covers 43 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Athens (39 km²), Tel Aviv (52 km²), Zurich (88 km²), Copenhagen (91 km²), or Lisbon (100 km²).
The straight-line distance from Ho Chi Minh City to Manila is 1,612 km (1,002 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~2h 24m.
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