Vietnam's passport drops three ranks on Henley index

In the previous ranking released in July by British global citizenship and residence advisory firm Henley & Partners, the Vietnamese passport held the 87th position, with visa-free access to 55 destinations.

In Southeast Asia, the Vietnamese passport currently ranks above Laos (92nd) and Myanmar (93rd).

Singapore continues to hold the title of the world's most powerful passport, as well as the strongest in Southeast Asia, with visa-free access to 195 destinations.

Malaysia ranks second in the region with visa-free access to 183 destinations, followed by Brunei with access to 166 destinations.

Thailand, whose economy relies heavily on tourism, ranks fourth in the region, granting its holders access to 82 destinations without a visa.

Southeast Asian countries have recently intensified their visa exemption efforts to attract international tourists amidst a competitive regional tourism landscape.

Yemen, Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan are listed as having the world's least powerful passports.

The Henley Passport Index ranks 199 global passports based on the number of destinations their holders can enter without a prior visa. Updated in real-time throughout the year as visa policy changes take effect, the index has become a widely recognized tool for assessing global mobility.

The index is based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association and is updated quarterly.