Ho Chi Minh City
2,061 km²
Rome
1,285 km²
Vietnam
Italy
Area Comparison
Ho Chi Minh City is 1.6x larger than Rome
Population Comparison
Ho Chi Minh City has 3.1x more people than Rome
Ho Chi Minh City is significantly larger, covering 1.6 times the area of Rome. Ho Chi Minh City spans 2,061 km² (796 mi²) while Rome covers 1,285 km² (496 mi²) — a difference of 776 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, Rome at 1,285 km² is about 1.2x smaller than 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. For Rome, that's about 180,000 American football fields, 22 times the area of Manhattan, or 12 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.
Rome is the capital city and most populated comune (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special comune named Roma Capitale with a population of 2.7 million in an area of 1,287.36 km2 (497.1 mi2), Rome is the third most populous city in the European Union by population within city limits. The Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, with a population of 4.2 million, is the most populous metropolitan city in Italy.
Often called "The Eternal City", Rome has an area of 1,285 km² and is home to 2.9 million people. The city dates back to 753 BC. Visitors come for Colosseum, Vatican City, Trevi Fountain, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Rome Metro.
Rome's special comune Roma Capitale spans 1,287 km2, making it the third most populous city in the EU within city limits
Looking beyond city limits, the Rome metropolitan area covers 5,352 km², which is 2.6x larger than greater Ho Chi Minh City at 2,061 km². The Ho Chi Minh City metro area is also more populous, with 9.0 million people compared to 4.3 million.
Ho Chi Minh City has a population density of 4,362 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Rome, with 2,233 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Ho Chi Minh City is noticeably denser, packing 2.0 times more people per square kilometer.
This comparison spans continents — Ho Chi Minh City in Asia versus Rome 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 Rome experiences Mediterranean conditions. Winters differ dramatically: Ho Chi Minh City stays around 27°C while Rome drops to 8°C. When it's noon in Ho Chi Minh City, it's 6:00 AM in Rome — a 6-hour time difference.
Density Gap
Ho Chi Minh City is 2.0x more densely populated
Time Difference
6 hours apart
History
Rome is ~2,451 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).
Rome covers 1,285 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Los Angeles (1,302 km²), Phoenix (1,341 km²), Rio de Janeiro (1,221 km²), San Antonio (1,209 km²), or Lagos (1,172 km²).
The straight-line distance from Ho Chi Minh City to Rome is 9,544 km (5,930 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~11h 44m.
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