Strict visa rules deter Vietnamese from traveling abroad: Agoda

By Hoang Phong November 30, 2025 | 04:31 pm PT

A group of Vietnamese tourists pose for photos at Onuma National Park, Hokkaido, Japan in November 2024. Photo by Nick M

Six out of ten Vietnamese respondents said visa restrictions affect their travel plans, according to a report by online platform Agoda.

In a survey of 3,353 respondents across nine Asian markets including Vietnam, 91% said they would travel abroad more often if visa procedures were eased and access to new countries improved.

Because of restrictive visa rules, 50% of Vietnamese said they would prioritize domestic travel over international trips, up from 26% last year, Agoda found.

Vietnam's passport has slipped four places to 92nd in the Henley Passport Index 2025, allowing passport holders to enjoy visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to just 50 of 227 destinations.

In 2024, 11 million Vietnamese traveled abroad, double from the previous year.

However, popular Asian destinations such as mainland China, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan still require Vietnamese travelers to apply for visas under strict procedures.

Vietnamese travelers want to go to destinations with easier visa access in 2026, said Vu Ngoc Lam, country director at Agoda.