Vietnamese travelers can now visit 50 global destinations without a visa or with simplified entry procedures, according to the Henley Passport Index (HPI) October 2025 update.
Vietnam’s passport currently ranks 92nd out of 199, marking an eight-place drop compared to the third-quarter release (84th) and down two spots from 2024. The decline reflects fewer destinations offering visa-free or visa-on-arrival access — down from 51 to 50 countries.
Where Vietnamese Travelers Can Go Without a Visa
According to the latest report, Vietnamese citizens holding ordinary passports can enjoy the following access types:
Visa-free (24 destinations)
Barbados, Belarus, Brunei, Cambodia, Chile, Cook Islands, Dominica, Indonesia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Malaysia, Micronesia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Panama, Philippines, Rwanda, Singapore, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Thailand.
Visa on Arrival (VOA – 22 destinations)
Bolivia, Burundi, Cape Verde Islands, Comoros Islands, Djibouti, Guinea-Bissau, Jordan, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Marshall Islands, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Niue, Palau Islands, Samoa, Sierra Leone, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Tuvalu.
Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA – 4 destinations)
Kenya, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste.
Vietnam’s Global Mobility: Still Limited, But Improving
The Henley Passport Index, based on data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), measures the freedom of movement granted to a country’s citizens.
Vietnam ranks 80th globally in terms of “openness,” indicating moderate international mobility.
“Global mobility does not happen by chance — it’s the result of proactive diplomacy and strategic visa agreements,” said Christian H. Kaelin, Chairman of Henley & Partners. “Countries that actively negotiate reciprocal visa waivers will continue to rise in the rankings.”
Experts note that a country’s visa policies often depend on diplomatic relations, economic stability, and illegal immigration risks. Nations with higher rates of citizens overstaying or working illegally abroad may face tighter restrictions.
Vietnam’s Passport Ranking Over the Past Decade
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 2016 | 90 |
| 2017 | 90 |
| 2018 | 90 |
| 2019 | 90 |
| 2020 | 86 |
| 2021 | 95 |
| 2022 | 89 |
| 2023 | 88 |
| 2024 | 87 |
| 2025 | 92 |
The Henley Passport Index is among the world’s most recognized measures of travel freedom. It is updated quarterly and reflects real-time visa regulations affecting citizens of 199 countries and territories.
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Source: Vietnam Insider