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The Vietnamese passport has just achieved a remarkable milestone, climbing 7 places to 84th in the prestigious Henley Passport Index ranking for the third quarter. This is not only a significant improvement from its 91st position at the beginning of the year but also one of the strongest rankings for Vietnam in the 20 years of Henley & Partners' statistics.
This achievement reflects Vietnam's continuous efforts to expand its foreign relations and integrate internationally.
Vietnam has made remarkable progress in the global passport rankings, rising seven places in the latest Henley Passport Index for Q2/2025.
With its new ranking, Vietnamese citizens can now enter 51 countries and territories without a visa, or simply by applying for an e-visa, visa on arrival, or electronic travel authorization (ETA). Although the number of visa-free destinations remains unchanged from its previous ranking of 91, the overall improvement demonstrates the strengthening position of the Vietnamese passport. These destinations include ASEAN countries, along with a diverse range of other countries such as Barbados, Bolivia, Chile, Madagascar, Maldives, Panama, Tajikistan, and many destinations in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.
This is an opportunity to promote the image of Vietnam to the whole world.
In Henley & Partners' nearly 20-year history, the Vietnamese passport's highest ranking was 78th in 2006 and 2007. While the current 84th position is considered average, it confirms a positive growth trend, no longer falling below 94th place as it did in the past. This demonstrates significant stability and improvement in the global accessibility of Vietnamese citizens.
Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners, emphasized: "Freedom of movement is not a given, but the result of proactive foreign policy and strategic cooperation."
The upgrade of the Vietnamese passport is coinciding with positive signals from immigration and tourism activities. According to the General Statistics Office, in the first six months of 2025, the total number of Vietnamese people leaving the country reached over 4 million, an impressive increase of 53.9% compared to the same period in 2024. This shows that the demand for tourism, business, and international exchange among Vietnamese people is increasing sharply, and the upgraded passport is a favorable factor.
Expanding this list reflects Vietnam's ongoing efforts to promote bilateral agreements and international cooperation on citizen mobility.
During the same period, Vietnam's service exports were estimated at US$14.79 billion, a 21.2% increase compared to the same period last year. Of this, tourism services contributed significantly with US$7.62 billion, accounting for 51.5% of the total export value and increasing by 24.7%. These figures demonstrate the increasingly important role of tourism and immigration in Vietnam's economy, and also show the country's increasingly deep connection with the world.
While Vietnam is on an upward trajectory, some of the world's most powerful passports are facing challenges. For example, the US passport, which held the top spot in 2014, now only allows visa-free travel to 182 countries and territories. Furthermore, new policies such as the introduction of a "visa guarantee fee" could diminish the attractiveness of the US to international travelers. This further highlights the achievements of the Vietnamese passport, demonstrating Vietnam's continuous efforts to enhance its standing on the international stage.
