Vietnamese passport maintains 88th position in global index

According to the report, which scores passports based on the number of destinations that the holder can access visa-free, Vietnamese passports enable visa-free travel to 51 out of a total of 227 destinations globally.

In Southeast Asia, the Vietnamese passport is more powerful than those of both Laos, 90th globally; and Myanmar, 92nd globally.

Singapore boasts one of the most powerful passports in the world as holders are able to enter 195 destinations globally without a visa.

The Malaysian passport is the 12th most powerful in the world, with visa-free access to 182 destinations; while the Thai passport ranked in 60th place. Its citizens are allowed to visit 82 countries without needing to apply for a visa.

Elsewhere, France, Italy, Germany, Japan, and Spain all shared second position on the list as their citizens are able to visit 192 countries and territories without needing a visa.

In contrast, the world’s weakest passports are those from poor countries mired in conflict, including the likes of Syria, Iraq, Yemen, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. Passport holders from these countries are only able to visit between 26 and 33 other countries without needing a visa.

With historical data spanning the past 19 years, the Henley Passport Index is the only one of its kind based on exclusive data compiled by the International Air Transport Authority (IATA).

The index includes 199 different passports and 227 different travel destinations. Updated monthly, the Henley Passport Index is considered to be the standard reference tool for global citizens and sovereign states when assessing where a passport ranks on the global mobility spectrum.