According to spokesperson Pham Thu Hang of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vietnamese citizens can now enter 55 countries and territories worldwide without the need for a visa or with simplified visa procedures such as e-visas or visas on arrival. Hang made this statement during the ministry’s regular press conference in Hanoi on July 20, in response to the Henley Passport Index released by Henley & Partners, a London-based global citizenship and residence advisory firm, on July 19.
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| A Vietnamese passport. Photo: Vietnam Government Portal |
According to Henley Passport Index, the Vietnamese passport has climbed 10 places from last year and 6 places since the first quarter of this year, currently ranking 82nd on the list of the world’s most powerful passports. However, the number of visa-exempt or visa-on-arrival destinations for Vietnamese passport holders remains the same. Vietnam has been proposing the simplification of visa procedures or visa exemptions for Vietnamese citizens and partner countries during meetings with partners, aiming to facilitate trade and exchanges and promote friendship.
The Henley Passport Index ranks global passports based on the number of visa-free destinations accessible. In Southeast Asia, Vietnamese passport holders have more travel freedom compared to Laos and Myanmar. Singapore currently holds the most powerful passport, with visa-free entry to 192 global destinations. Malaysia ranks 11th, while Thailand ranks 64th on the list.
The Henley Passport Index ranks 199 global passports based on visa-free access. The latest ranking shows Japan dropping to third place, with visa-free access to 189 destinations, while Italy, Germany, and Spain share the second spot with visa-free access to 190 destinations. At the bottom of the list are Afghanistan, Yemen, Pakistan, Syria, and Iraq with limited access to international destinations.
Vietnam currently offers visa waivers for 25 countries and e-visas for citizens from 80 countries and territories. The US passport ranks 8th in terms of power, but its ranking has not increased significantly in the past decade. The UK, after leaving the European Union, has returned to fourth place on the index.
The Henley Passport Index is a widely recognized ranking of passports, based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The index is updated quarterly and serves as a standard reference tool for global mobility assessment.
