Vietnam’s Passport Rises to 84th in Global Ranking
Hanoi, The Gulf Observer: Vietnam’s passport has climbed seven places to rank 84th out of 199 countries and territories in the Henley Passport Index for the third quarter of 2025, according to a report released on July 22 by UK-based global citizenship advisory firm Henley & Partners. The passport previously ranked 91st earlier this year and 87th in 2024.
The significant improvement signals growing international confidence in Vietnam, bolstering prospects for its citizens in travel, trade, education, and global integration.
The Henley Passport Index, based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), ranks passports according to the number of destinations holders can enter without a traditional visa or with simplified entry procedures such as e-visas, visas on arrival, or electronic travel authorisations (ETAs). As of Q3 2025, Vietnamese citizens can now access 51 destinations visa-free or with simplified entry, aligning with several other developing countries.
While Vietnam’s passport remains in the lower-middle tier globally, the recent advancement represents one of the most notable upward shifts since Henley & Partners began tracking global passport strength nearly two decades ago.
In Southeast Asia, Vietnam’s passport now ranks above Laos (92nd) and Myanmar (93rd), while Singapore continues to hold the top global position, offering visa-free access to 195 destinations.
The upward trajectory reflects growing international trust in Vietnam’s foreign policy, transparency in administrative reforms, and successful bilateral diplomacy. Experts attribute the improvement to Vietnam’s enhanced e-passport system, ongoing negotiations for visa waiver agreements, and increased global engagement across Asia, Africa, and the Pacific.
Destinations currently offering visa-free or simplified access to Vietnamese citizens include fellow ASEAN nations such as Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, and the Philippines, as well as countries in Africa, South America, Central Asia, and South Asia, including Kenya, Panama, Kyrgyzstan, Iran, and the Maldives.
Tourism and policy analysts view passport rankings as a soft indicator of a country’s global standing and citizen mobility. The index’s boost is expected to positively influence outbound tourism, enabling tour operators to design more diverse and premium travel packages, while easing access for students, entrepreneurs, and professionals engaging abroad.
According to Vietnam’s National Statistics Office, more than four million Vietnamese citizens travelled overseas in the first half of 2025, marking a 53.9% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
As Vietnam continues modernizing its passport infrastructure and expanding diplomatic ties, the rising passport rank is not only a measure of progress but also a symbol of national pride and opportunity on the global stage.
