Asia · capital city
What Is the Capital of Vietnam?
Hanoi
The capital of Vietnam is Hanoi. About 5.3 million people live in the Hanoi urban area — 5.2% of the country's population.
5.3 million
Urban area population
UTC+7
Time zone
21.03°N
Latitude · 105.85°E
No
Largest city: Ho Chi Minh City
Hanoi at a glance
Name origin
The name means "inside the river," from the Vietnamese words ha (river) and noi (inside), and refers to its location in a bend of the Red River.
Time zone
UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time). No daylight saving time.
Coordinates
21 02 N, 105 51 E · IANA time zone Asia/Ho_Chi_Minh
Location of Vietnam
Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of Tonkin, and South China Sea, as well as China, Laos, and Cambodia
Largest cities in Vietnam
1
Ho Chi Minh City
9.3 million2
Hanoi Capital
5.3 million3
Can Tho
1.9 million4
Hai Phong
1.4 million5
Da Nang
1.2 million6
Bien Hoa
1.1 millionUrban-area population · CIA World Factbook (public domain)
Capitals of neighbouring countries
Beijing, China — 2,326 kmCapitals closest to Hanoi
Vientiane, Laos — 482 km
Bangkok, Thailand — 988 km
Phnom Penh, Cambodia — 1,059 km
Rangoon, Myanmar — 1,122 km
Dhaka, Bangladesh — 1,615 km
Taipei, Taiwan — 1,663 km
Manila, Philippines — 1,751 km
Thimphu, Bhutan — 1,791 km
Straight-line distance between capitals.
Frequently asked questions about Hanoi
What is the capital of Vietnam?
The capital of Vietnam is Hanoi. About 5.3 million people live in the Hanoi urban area — 5.2% of the country's population.
Is Hanoi the largest city in Vietnam?
No. The largest urban area is Ho Chi Minh City (9.3 million), while Hanoi has about 5.3 million.
What time zone is Hanoi in?
Hanoi is on UTC+7 — UTC+7 (12 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time). There is no daylight saving time.
Where does the name Hanoi come from?
The name means "inside the river," from the Vietnamese words ha (river) and noi (inside), and refers to its location in a bend of the Red River.
Which capital is closest to Hanoi?
Among the capitals of neighbouring countries, Vientiane (Laos) is the closest, 482 km away in a straight line.
Data: CIA World Factbook (public domain); population: World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0).