The latest ranking marks a rise from 92nd place in October, although it remains below Viet Nam's standing of 87th in 2024. In the October update, the Vietnamese passport had fallen eight places compared to the previous quarter.

Vietnamese passport holders are now able to travel to 50 destinations either visa-free or with simplified entry arrangements such as e-visas, visas on arrival, or electronic travel authorizations, out of a total of 199 countries and territories worldwide.

In terms of visa openness, Viet Nam ranked 80th globally, offering visa-free entry to nearly 40 destinations. This represents a slight decline from 51 destinations recorded in the third quarter.

Most destinations allowing visa-free or visa-on-arrival access for Vietnamese citizens are located in Southeast Asia, including Thailand, Singapore, Myanmar and Malaysia, along with several island nations such as the Maldives, Cape Verde, Comoros and the Cook Islands.

Viet Nam's highest position in the 20-year history of the Henley Passport Index was 78th, achieved in 2006 and 2007.

Under current regulations, Vietnamese citizens are eligible for ordinary passports for international travel, while official and diplomatic passports are issued to government officials and diplomats in accordance with their duties. Passports are issued by the Ministry of Public Security and Vietnamese diplomatic missions abroad, with processing increasingly supported by digital and online application systems.

In recent years, Viet Nam has taken steps to modernize passport issuance and management, including the rollout of biometric passports and electronic data integration. These measures aim to enhance security, prevent fraud, and align Vietnamese travel documents with international standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

The Henley Passport Index is the original, authoritative ranking of all the world’s passports according to the number of destinations their holders can access without a prior visa. The Index is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and enhanced by Henley & Partners’ research team. It includes 199 different passports and 227 different travel destinations. Updated quarterly, the Index is considered the standard reference tool for global citizens and sovereign states when assessing where a passport ranks on the global mobility spectrum./.