The Henley Passport Index is a global ranking that measures the strength of passports based on the number of destinations their holders can enter without obtaining a visa in advance.
The index is compiled using exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), combined with analysis by Henley & Partners, a leading global firm specialising in residence and citizenship planning.
According to the latest ranking, Vietnamese passport holders can access 49 destinations without a visa, or with visa-on-arrival (VOA), electronic travel authorisation (ETA), or similar simplified entry procedures, out of a total of 199 countries and territories worldwide.
These destinations are largely concentrated in the ASEAN region, including Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia, as well as several island nations and developing economies in Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific.
Despite the improvement in ranking, the number of visa-free destinations has declined slightly compared with December 2025, after Bolivia removed Viet Nam from its visa exemption list. In terms of national openness, Viet Nam is ranked 80th, granting visa-free access to nearly 40 destinations.
Globally, Singapore continues to hold the title of the world’s most powerful passport, allowing entry to 192 destinations without a visa. Japan and the Republic of Korea jointly rank second, with access to 188 destinations.
Several European Union member states, including Denmark, France, Germany and Sweden, also remain near the top of the ranking. Notably, the US passport has returned to the global top 10 after climbing one place compared with its December 2025 position.
Willie Walsh, Director General of IATA, noted that 2026 is expected to record the highest level of global travel on record. With data covering 199 passports and 227 destinations over a 20-year period, the Henley Passport Index is updated monthly and remains a key reference for assessing global mobility.
Over the past two decades, Viet Nam’s passport has experienced significant ups and downs, reaching a historical high of 78th place in 2006–2007. The 2026 ranking represents its strongest performance since 2020.
