Disclosed are a hybrid electric vehicle, which is capable of controlling engine starting in consideration of entry into a specific area, and method of controlling the same. A method of controlling engine starting of a hybrid vehicle includes determining whether catalyst heating is necessary, determining whether a current location corresponds to a specific area associated with exhaust emissions, determining whether a first mode driving is possible, when it is determined that the current position corresponds to the specific area and the catalyst heating is necessary, and performing the first mode driving when the first mode driving is determined to be possible, or a second mode driving when the first mode driving is determined to be impossible. Here, the first mode driving is performed by using an electric motor, and the second mode driving is performed by using at least an engine.