Ho Chi Minh City
2,061 km²
Seoul
605 km²
Vietnam
South Korea
Area Comparison
Ho Chi Minh City is 3.4x larger than Seoul
Population Comparison
Ho Chi Minh City has 1.1x fewer people than Seoul
In terms of area, Ho Chi Minh City is 3.4x the size of Seoul. Ho Chi Minh City spans 2,061 km² (796 mi²) while Seoul covers 605 km² (234 mi²) — a difference of 1,456 km². You could fit Seoul 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, Seoul at 605 km² is about 1.3x smaller than New York City.
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. Seoul works out to about 85,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Central Park, or 10 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.
Seoul, officially Seoul Special Metropolitan City, is the capital and largest city of South Korea, and the largest city in the whole of Korea. The broader Seoul Metropolitan Area, encompassing Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon, emerged as the world's sixth largest metropolitan economy in 2022, behind New York, Tokyo, Los Angeles, Paris, and London, and hosts more than half of South Korea's population.
Seoul has an area of 605 km² and is home to 9.8 million people. Its history stretches back to 18 BC. Visitors come for Gyeongbokgung Palace, Gangnam district, Myeongdong shopping, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Seoul Metro.
Seoul Metropolitan Area emerged as the world's sixth largest metropolitan economy in 2022, behind only NYC, Tokyo, LA, Paris, and London.
Looking beyond city limits, the Seoul metropolitan area covers 11,704 km², which is 5.7x larger than greater Ho Chi Minh City at 2,061 km². The Seoul metro area is also more populous, with 25.5 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. Seoul, with 16,149 people per km², is an extremely dense urban environment. Seoul 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 Seoul (South Korea) offer a fascinating regional contrast.
Ho Chi Minh City has a tropical savanna climate while Seoul experiences humid continental conditions. Winters differ dramatically: Ho Chi Minh City stays around 27°C while Seoul drops to -3°C. When it's noon in Seoul, it's 10:00 AM in Ho Chi Minh City — a 2-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Seoul fits inside Ho Chi Minh City ~3 times
Density Gap
Seoul is 3.7x more densely populated
History
Seoul is ~1,716 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).
Seoul covers 605 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Chicago (606 km²), Madrid (604 km²), Mumbai (603 km²), Toronto (630 km²), or Hyderabad (650 km²).
The straight-line distance from Ho Chi Minh City to Seoul is 3,601 km (2,238 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~4h 44m.
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