Top 10 Most Populous Cities in Vietnam

Nghe An is a province located in the central region of North Central Vietnam, with a long history of formation and development, rich in revolutionary traditions and a strong spirit of learning. Nghe An is also the birthplace of many national heroes, renowned figures, generals, and historical celebrities. Most notably, Nghe An is the homeland of President Ho Chi Minh, the great leader of the Vietnamese people, national liberation hero, and cultural icon of the world.

The name Nghe An first appeared in 1030 during the reign of King Ly Thai Tong, when the king changed the name Hoan Chau to Nghệ An Province. Since then, the name Nghe An has become a beloved and familiar part of the nation's heroic history, deeply rooted in the hearts of generations of Nghe An people to this day. The capital of the province is Vinh City. Nghe An has 21 districts, including 1 city, 3 towns, and 17 rural districts, with 460 administrative units at the commune level, including 411 communes, 32 wards, and 17 towns.

The population of Nghe An is 3,419,990 people as of 2022, according to the estimated figures from the General Statistics Office of Vietnam, ranking fourth in the country.

Dong Nai is a province in the Southeastern region of Vietnam, created by merging the former provinces of Bien Hoa and Long Khanh. It is the fifth most populous province in the country, following Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Thanh Hoa, and Nghe An.

As of 2019, Dong Nai's population reached 3,097,107, with a density of 516.3 people per square kilometer. Urban dwellers make up 48.4% of the population, while rural dwellers account for 51.6%. The province is the most populated in the Southeastern region, excluding Ho Chi Minh City, and ranks second in the South (after Ho Chi Minh City), fifth in the entire country (after Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Thanh Hoa, and Nghe An), and fourth in urban population nationwide (after Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Binh Duong). Dong Nai has the second-largest land area in the Southeastern region (after Binh Phuoc) and is the third-largest in the South (after Binh Phuoc and Kien Giang). According to the 2009 census, Dong Nai is home to 51 ethnic groups and foreign nationals. The largest group is the Kinh, with 2,311,315 people, followed by the Hoa (95,162 people), the Nung (19,076 people), the Tay (15,906 people), and the Khmer (7,059 people), along with smaller groups like the Muong, Dao, Cham, and Thai. Some ethnic minorities such as the Si La and O Du have just one person. The urbanization rate reached over 45% by 2022.

Binh Duong is a province located in the Southeastern region of Vietnam. The provincial capital is Thu Dau Mot, situated 30 km from downtown Ho Chi Minh City along National Route 13. Binh Duong is the sixth most populous province out of Vietnam's 63 provinces and cities, with a high population growth rate driven by migration. Over 50% of its population are migrants. The province is also the first and only one in Vietnam to have five cities.

In 2021, Binh Duong's average population was 2,685,513, an increase of 104,963, or 4.07%, compared to 2020. Of this, the urban population stood at 2,266,771, making up 84.4%, while the rural population was 418,742, comprising 15.6%. The male population accounted for 51.1%, and the female population was 48.9%. The population density was 997 people per square kilometer. In 2021, the total fertility rate was 1.62 children per woman, and the crude birth rate was 18.22%, while the crude death rate was 3.6%. The infant mortality rate was 8.7%, and the mortality rate for children under five was 14.35%. The average life expectancy in 2021 was nearly 75 years, with men living over 72 years and women approaching 78 years. The population growth rate for both urban and rural areas was 4.5%. Binh Duong is home to about 15 ethnic groups, with the Kinh being the largest, followed by the Hoa, Khmer, and others. The province has the highest urbanization rate in the country, at 84.95% (as of 2024).

According to the results of the 2019 National Population and Housing Census, 12 provinces and centrally controlled cities in Vietnam reported a positive net migration rate, meaning that more people migrated into these areas than out. Binh Duong had the highest net migration rate at 200.4‰, with over 489,000 immigrants and just around 38,000 emigrants in the past five years. This means that for every five people aged 5 and above in Binh Duong, one person comes from another province. Furthermore, Binh Duong has the highest proportion of migrant households renting or borrowing homes, with 74.5% of migrant workers renting or borrowing accommodation.

Hai Phong is one of the five centrally governed cities of Vietnam. It is the third-largest city in the country, an important seaport, industrial hub, and a major center for economic, cultural, medical, educational, scientific, commercial, and technological activities in the northern coastal region of Vietnam. Hai Phong is a class I urban area and serves as both a regional and national center. Historically, it was the first place in Vietnam and Indochina to have electricity.

Often referred to as 'Dat Cang' (Port Land) or 'Hai Phong Port City', the city is well known for the widespread planting of red flamboyant flowers, which gives Hai Phong its affectionate nickname, 'The City of Red Flowers'. Besides being an industrial port city, Hai Phong also holds great potential as a tourist destination. The city preserves a rich architectural heritage, from traditional temples and pagodas to neoclassical French buildings in the old quarters. Hai Phong is also home to the Cat Ba Archipelago, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and the beaches and resorts of Do Son. The city is known for its cultural characteristics, especially its cuisine and traditional festivals.

As of 2022, Hai Phong had a population of 2,088,020 people, ranking 7th in the country according to the General Statistics Office of Vietnam.

An Giang is a province in the Mekong Delta region of Vietnam. It is part of the key economic area of the Mekong Delta and ranks as the most populous province in this region, with the eighth highest population in the country. A portion of An Giang lies within the Long Xuyen Quadrangle. This province is vast, featuring stunning natural landscapes, expansive rivers, majestic mountains, lush cajuput forests, and endless rice fields...

As of 2020, An Giang covers an area of 3,536.83 km² with a population of 1,904,532 people, giving it a population density of 539 people per km². An Giang is the most densely populated province in the Mekong Delta and ranks eighth in Vietnam overall (following Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An, Dong Nai, Binh Duong, and Hai Phong). A part of the province is situated within the Long Xuyen Quadrangle.

By August 9, 2019, the province had a population of 2,164,200 with a density of 612 people/km². This makes An Giang the most populous province in the Mekong Delta region. Of its population, 31.6% reside in urban areas, while 68.4% live in rural areas. The population is primarily concentrated along the riverbanks (along the Tien and Hau rivers)... The districts of Cho Moi and the city of Long Xuyen have the largest populations in the province. As of 2023, the urbanization rate stands at 42%. The province is home to 24,011 ethnic minority households, with a total of 114,632 people, making up 5.17% of the total population.

Hai Duong is a province located in the Red River Delta region of Vietnam. In 2021, Hai Duong was the eighth most populous administrative unit in Vietnam with 1,936,774 residents, and its GRDP growth rate reached 8.5%. The GRDP amounted to 149,700 billion VND (approximately 6.480 billion USD), and the per capita GRDP was 77 million VND (around 3,347 USD).

Hai Duong is part of the key economic region of the Northern area. The administrative center of the province is Hai Duong city (currently a Type I urban area), situated 50 km east of Hanoi and 45 km west of Hai Phong. According to the 2007 plan, Hai Duong is considered a central industrial hub within the capital region.

By 2020, Hai Duong's population stood at 1,936,774, making it the most populous province in the North (excluding Hanoi and Hai Phong, which are centrally governed cities). The population distribution is as follows: rural areas 65.8%, urban areas 34.2%.

As of April 1, 2019, the province was home to six different religious groups, totaling 62,274 individuals. The majority were Catholics (52,812), followed by Buddhists (9,290), and Protestants (163). Other religions included Islam with seven practitioners, Hoa Hao Buddhism and Cao Dai with one follower each.

Dak Lak (formerly known as Darlac) is a mountainous province located in the central region of the Central Highlands in Vietnam. The provincial capital is Buon Ma Thuot. In 2019, Dak Lak was the fourth largest province in Vietnam by area, the tenth most populous, ranked 22nd in terms of Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP), 41st in GRDP per capita, and 37th in GRDP growth rate. With a population of 1.87 million, the province's GRDP reached 78.686 trillion VND (approximately 3.4175 billion USD), and the per capita GRDP was 41 million VND (about 1,781 USD), with a GRDP growth rate of 7.82%.

As of December 31, 2023, Dak Lak had a population of 2,207,244, with a population density of 135 people per km². Of this, 462,013 people resided in urban areas (24.7% of the population), while 1,407,309 lived in rural areas (75.3%). The male population was 942,578, while females numbered 926,744. The natural population growth rate was 0.75 ‰. Dak Lak is the most populous province in the Central Highlands, with over 1.8 million people. The urbanization rate in 2023 was 25.76%.

According to data from the General Statistics Office of Vietnam, as of April 1, 2019, Dak Lak was home to 13 different religions, with a total of 577,920 adherents. The largest group was Catholics (265,760), followed by Protestants (181,670), Buddhists (126,660), and Cao Dai followers (3,572), along with smaller groups such as Hoa Hao Buddhists (162), Muslims (65), Buu Son Ky Huong (23), Tinh Do Cu Si Phat Hoi Vietnam (3), Bahá'ís (2), and the smallest groups: Minh Su Dao, Minh Ly Dao, and Dao Tu An Hieu Nghia, each with one adherent.

As of April 1, 2009, Dak Lak hosted 47 different ethnic groups, alongside foreign nationals. The largest group was the Kinh people, numbering 1,161,533, followed by the E De (298,534), Nung (71,461), and Tay (51,285). Other ethnic minorities included M'nong (40,344), H'mong (22,760), Thai (17,135), and Muong (15,510).

Ho Chi Minh City serves as the country's leading center for economics, culture, education, healthcare, and science. With its rapid development, the population of Ho Chi Minh City has steadily increased over the years, especially as people from all over the country migrate here to settle and pursue their livelihoods. According to the most recent statistics from the first half of 2023, the population of Ho Chi Minh City reached nearly 9 million, making it the most populous city in Vietnam.

As of June 1, 2023, the population of Ho Chi Minh City stood at approximately 8.9 million (specifically, 8,899,866). However, if you include those residing without official registration, the actual population of the city approaches 14 million.

During the French colonial era, the population of Saigon was only around 20,000 to 30,000 people. By the year 2000, Ho Chi Minh City's population had surpassed 5 million, nearly 3.2 times the 2.5 million residents of Saigon back in 1975. Today, Ho Chi Minh City is the largest city in the country, accounting for approximately 8.9% of Vietnam's total population.

Hanoi is the capital city of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. It is one of the centrally governed cities and also one of the two special urban areas in Vietnam. Located between latitudes 20°53' and 21°23' North and longitudes 105°44' and 106°02' East, Hanoi is situated in the fertile Red River Delta region. It shares borders with several provinces, including Thai Nguyen, Vinh Phuc, Ha Nam, Hoa Binh, Bac Giang, Bac Ninh, Hung Yen, and Phu Tho. In addition to its vast land area of approximately 3,358.6 km², Hanoi is also home to a rich network of rivers, such as the Red River, Duong River, Cau River, Day River, and Nhue River.

Hanoi is the city with the most administrative districts in Vietnam, with 30 districts. It has the highest number of districts, including 1 town, 12 urban districts, and 17 rural districts, making it the city with the greatest administrative division in the country.

According to the most recent population statistics from the General Statistics Office, the population of Hanoi in 2024 is estimated to be around 8.5 million people. Hanoi has the second-largest population in the country and ranks second in terms of population density among the 63 provinces and centrally governed cities, with a density of 2,398 people per square kilometer, which is 8.2 times higher than the national average.

Thanh Hoa is one of the key centers in the North Central region of Vietnam and nationwide for energy industry, manufacturing and processing, high-value agriculture, logistics, tourism, education and training, specialized healthcare, and cultural and sports development. It is a new growth pole alongside Hanoi, Hai Phong, and Quang Ninh, forming the northern Vietnam development quadrangle.

The province ranks 8th in terms of economic scale in the country, leading among provinces in the Central and Central Highlands regions. It also leads in terms of FDI investments, industrial production value, import-export goods value, and annual state budget revenues in the Central region.

As of December 31, 2022, Thanh Hoa's population stood at 4,357,523, comprising 4,209,293 permanent residents and 148,230 temporary residents. The urbanization rate, based on converted population figures, is 38.02%. On April 1, 2019, the population was 3,640,128, with females making up 1,824,127 (50.11%). The population density of the province is 328 people per square kilometer, ranking 28th out of 63 provinces in the country, with an increase of 22.6 people per square kilometer. The gender ratio (the number of males per 100 females) has increased from 95.6% in 1999 to 98.0% in 2009, matching the national average.

As of April 1, 2019, the province has 9 different religions with a total of 159,466 followers. The largest group is Catholicism, with 149,990 followers, followed by Protestantism with 7,890, and Buddhism with 1,447. Other religions include Islam with 95 followers, Cao Dai with 23, Minh Su with 14, Hoa Hao Buddhism with 4, the Four Noble Truths with 2, and Minh Ly Dao with 1 follower.