Vietnam passport climbs 6 places in global ranking

The ranking, updated in March this year, shows that Vietnamese passport holders can travel to 48 destinations without a visa in advance or through simplified entry procedures such as electronic visas, visas on arrival, or electronic travel authorizations, out of 199 countries and territories assessed.

The Henley Passport Index measures passport strength based on the number of destinations holders can access without obtaining a visa in advance.

Vietnam now shares the 84th position with Angola, Burundi, and the Central African Republic.

Within Southeast Asia, Vietnam ranks above Cambodia (85th), Laos (87th), and Myanmar (90th) although Cambodia had previously placed higher than Vietnam in earlier editions of the ranking.

Vietnam’s passport reached its highest-ever position of 78th in the index in 2006 and 2007, according to Henley and Partners, the London-based global citizenship and residence advisory firm that publishes the ranking.

Singapore continues to hold the world’s most powerful passport in the latest ranking, with its citizens able to enter 192 countries and territories without obtaining a visa in advance.

Japan, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates share second place in the ranking, while Sweden holds the third position.

The five lowest-ranked passports belong to Pakistan, Yemen, Iraq, Syria, and Afghanistan.

The index is compiled using exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association, combined with research and analysis from Henley & Partners.