HCMC – Vietnamese passports have climbed two places to 90th globally in the Henley Passport Index 2025, according to the latest update released in December.
The ranking improved from 92nd in October but remains below Vietnam’s 2024 position of 87th.
Vietnamese passport holders can now travel to 50 destinations without a visa or with simplified entry requirements such as e-visa, visa on arrival, or electronic travel authorization (ETA), out of a total of 199 countries and territories covered by the index. In the previous update published in the third quarter, the number stood at 51 destinations.
The index also measures a country’s visa openness. Vietnam ranks 80th globally, granting visa-free access to citizens of nearly 40 destinations.
Most visa-free or simplified-entry destinations for Vietnamese travelers are within the ASEAN bloc, including Thailand, Singapore, Myanmar and Malaysia. Several island nations are also on the list, such as Cape Verde, the Comoros, the Cook Islands and the Maldives.
Over the 20-year history of the Henley Passport Index, Vietnam’s highest ranking was 78th in 2006 and 2007. It ranked 79th in 2008 and 2009, 81st in 2013 and 2014, and 84th in 2010.
At the top of the 2025 ranking, Singapore retained its position as the world’s most powerful passport, with visa-free access to 193 destinations. In terms of visa openness, Singapore ranked 15th, granting visa-free entry to travelers from 164 destinations.
Malaysia entered the top 10 in the latest update, also rising two places. Malaysian citizens enjoy visa-free access to 181 destinations, while the country ranks 14th globally for visa openness, with exemptions for travelers from 167 countries and territories. With Malaysia’s inclusion, the Asia-Pacific region accounts for seven of the top 10 passports.
The U.S. remained outside the top 10, holding 11th place, unchanged from the previous ranking. Its visa openness ranking stood at 77th, with visa-free access granted to citizens from 46 countries and territories.
