Capital of Vietnam: Hanoi — Facts & 5-Question Quiz
The capital of Vietnam is Hanoi. Vietnam sits in Asia, has a population of 98,186,856, and uses the VND. Official languages include Vietnamese.
Quick facts
- Capital: Hanoi
- Continent: Asia
- Population: ~98,186,856
- Area: 331,212 km²
- Population density: 296 people per km²
- Official language: Vietnamese
- Currency: VND
- ISO code: VN
How big is Vietnam?
By population, Vietnam ranks 16th in the world, holding roughly 1.23% of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 66th.
Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. Vietnam has 296 people per square kilometre, which is about 5.0 times the world average of 59.4. It is more crowded than its size alone would suggest.
Within Asia, Vietnam is the 8th most populous country of 48.
Countries of a similar size
The two countries closest to Vietnam in population are Democratic Republic of the Congo (99,010,212) and Iran (88,550,570).
By land area, its closest counterparts are Malaysia (330,803 km²) and Finland (338,424 km²).
Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.
Language and currency
Vietnamese is listed as an official language of Vietnam alone, which is unusual — most official languages are shared across borders.
Vietnam uses the VND, and it is the only country that does, which makes the currency name a reliable one-to-one clue.
How to remember Vietnam
Hanoi is in the north, in the Red River Delta, while the largest city, Ho Chi Minh City, is in the south. If you are torn between the two, the capital is the northern one. For the flag, one gold star on plain red.
The flag of Vietnam: red and yellow
🇻🇳 The flag is a red flag with a large five-pointed yellow star in the centre. Red stands for revolution and blood. The five points of the star stand for five groups of people, farmers, workers, intellectuals, traders and soldiers, who unite to build socialism.
Region and neighbours
Vietnam is a country on the eastern edge of mainland Southeast Asia, lying along the South China Sea to the east and the Gulf of Thailand to the southwest. It shares land borders with 3 countries: China, Laos and Cambodia.
- China 🇨🇳 — capital Beijing
- Laos 🇱🇦 — capital Vientiane
- Cambodia 🇰🇠— capital Phnom Penh
Three facts about Vietnam
- Vietnam has been the world's second-largest rice exporter, after Thailand, since the 1990s.
- Vietnam is one of two communist states in Southeast Asia; the other is Laos.
- Hanoi is home to the Imperial Citadel of Thăng Long and Hoà n Kiếm Lake.
Sources: Wikipedia: Vietnam, Wikipedia: Flag of Vietnam, Wikipedia: Hanoi, CIA World Factbook.
Quiz yourself on Vietnam
- Asian capitals quiz — match Vietnam to Hanoi
- Asian flags quiz — spot the Vietnam flag among its neighbours
Vietnam capital quiz
What is the capital of Vietnam 🇻🇳?
- Hanoi
- Kuala Lumpur
- Phnom Penh
- Dili
Show answer
Hanoi
What is the capital of Iran 🇮🇷?
- Damascus
- Tehran
- Beirut
- Manama
Show answer
Tehran
What is the capital of Turkey 🇹🇷?
- Kuwait City
- Seoul
- Ankara
- Vientiane
Show answer
Ankara
What is the capital of Philippines 🇵�
- Manila
- Sana'a
- Naypyidaw
- Muscat
Show answer
Manila
What is the capital of Japan 🇯🇵?
- New Delhi
- Islamabad
- Baku
- Tokyo
Show answer
Tokyo
Vietnam capital quiz tip
The trap is Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon), Vietnam's largest city. The capital is Hanoi, in the north.
Vietnam is also in the Southeast Asia capitals quiz.
Vietnam in Asia
The largest countries by population sharing this continent are China, India, Indonesia and Pakistan.
If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — Asia is the block Vietnam belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.
Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for Vietnam.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of Vietnam?
The capital of Vietnam is Hanoi.
Is Ho Chi Minh City the capital of Vietnam?
No. Ho Chi Minh City is the largest city; the capital of Vietnam is Hanoi.
What is the population of Vietnam?
About 98,186,856, making it the 16th most populous country in the world.
How big is Vietnam?
331,212 square kilometres, ranking 66th by land area, at a density of 296 people per square kilometre.
What currency does Vietnam use?
The VND, which no other country uses.
What are the colours of the Vietnam flag?
The flag of Vietnam is a red flag with a large five-pointed yellow star in the centre. Red stands for revolution and blood. The five points of the star stand for five groups of people, farmers, workers, intellectuals, traders and soldiers, who unite to build socialism.
Which countries border Vietnam?
Vietnam shares land borders with China, Laos and Cambodia.
How can I remember the capital of Vietnam?
Hanoi is in the north, in the Red River Delta, while the largest city, Ho Chi Minh City, is in the south. If you are torn between the two, the capital is the northern one. For the flag, one gold star on plain red.
More capitals to learn
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