Vietnam passport 73rd most powerful in the world

It ranked 199 passports from around the world based on how many countries their holders can visit visa-free, with a visa on arrival, an e-visa (if issued within three days), or with an electronic travel authorization.

According to Arton Capital, Vietnamese passport holders can access 70 countries, including 24 without a prior visa, and 46 with visas obtained on arrival.

In Southeast Asia, the Vietnamese passport is more powerful than Laos (79th) and Myanmar (84th).

Singapore has the world’s fifth most powerful passport in the world with access to 175 countries.

The Malaysian passport was the 10th most powerful in the world with visa-free or visa on arrival access to 170 destinations while the Thai passport ranked 51st, with its citizens allowed to visit 97 countries.

The UAE passport retained its position as the world's most powerful passport as its holders can enter 180 countries around the world, followed by Germany, Spain, France, Italy and the Netherlands that shared the same second position.

The world's least powerful passports come from countries mired in political conflicts Pakistan, Somalia, Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria.

Last year, the Henley Passport Index released by London-based global citizenship and residence advisory firm Henley & Partners ranked the Vietnamese passport at 82nd with visa access to 55 destinations.

Vietnam now allows visa waivers for 25 countries and offers three-month tourist e-visas to citizens from all countries.