Vietnam’s passport climbed four spots to rank 88th among the most powerful passports in the world, according to the newly-released Henley Passport Index 2023.
People with a Vietnamese passport enjoy free entry or are just required an e-visa or a visa on arrival to 55 countries and territories globally. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam’s passport climbed fourspots to rank 88th among the most powerful passport⛄s in the world, according to thenewly-released Henley Passport Index 2023.
Accordingly, people with a Vietnamese passport enjoy free entry or are just required an e-visa or a visa on arrival to 55 countries and territoriesglobally. Meanwhile, Japan’s passport is the most powerful one in theworld as Japanese passport holders can enter 193 destinations globally withouta visa. It is followed by Singapore and the Republic of Korea withfree entry into 192 destinations, and Germany and Spain shared the third place with free access to 190destinations. The passports of Finland, Austria, Italy, and Luxembourgranked fourth in the index as people with those passports can enter 189destinations without applying for a visa. In contrast, the world’s weakest passports include those of Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, Nepal, and the DemocraticPeople's Republic of Korea as passport holders from these nations are only ableto visit between 27 and 40 other countries and territories without visas. The Henley Passport Index is the original, authoritativeranking of all the world’s passports according to the number of destinationstheir holders can access without a prior visa. The index is based on exclusivedata from the International Air Transport Association (IATA) – the largest, mostaccurate travel information database – and enhanced by Henley & Partners’research team. Surveys are made for 199 passports and 227 countries andterritories globally, updated every quarter. For each visa-free destination,that country's passport will be awarded one point./.
The Vietnamese Government on March 15 issued a resolution on visa waivers for citizens from 13 countries namely Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the UK, Russia, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Belarus.
Vietnam’s visa policy is favourable and will continue to be reformed to facilitate foreigners’ entry, an official of the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) has said.
The National Assembly has officially agreed to add place of birth information back into Vietnamese new passports, following rejections from a number of countries earlier this year.
Despite realising that he had been scammed, the tourist still paid the fare, took a photo of the license plate as evidence and sent a report to the authorities.
Through personal relationships or professional dealings, Chairman of Phuc Son Group Nguyen Van Hau gave a total of over 130 billion VND to local leaders in Vinh Phuc and Quang Ngai provinces. These officials used their positions to execute tasks as requested by Hau, enabling him and Phuc Son Group, as well as Thang Long company, to carry out projects, participate in tenders, and win contracts.
Total tourism revenue is projected to reach 280 trillion VND (10.7 billion USD), with hotel occupancy rates averaging 68% and the sector’s contribution to the city’s gross regional domestic product (GRDP) estimated at 7–7.5%.
Amid complex developments in the region, the Vietnamese Embassy in Israel continues to advise Vietnamese citizens who remain in the conflict zone to stay calm, maintain regular contact with the embassy, and strictly follow instructions and warnings from local authorities, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), and the embassy.
Kon Tum aims to eliminate all substandard housing by October 31. Authorities will continue to review and prioritise support for households in serious hardship, especially those who rendered service to the nation, the poor, and victims of Agent Orange, while ensuring transparency and preventing policy abuse.
Vietnam has achieved many remarkable results, such as the smoking rate among adults decreased from 23.8% in 2010 to 20.8% in 2021. The rate of exposure to secondhand smoke decreased from 73.1% to 45.6%.
More than half a century after the war, millions of unexploded bombs and mines remain buried underground, threatening lives and hindering development in many localities.
According to the indictment, during the execution of various projects and procurement packages across the provinces of Vinh Phuc, Quang Ngai, and Phu Tho, Phuc Son Group's Chairman and General Director Nguyen Van Hau, who is also Chairman of the Thang Long investment, trade and real estate JSC, either personally committed, directed subordinates, or worked with partner entities to carry out unlawful activities related bidding and accounting procedures.
According to Ben Tre authorities, the province will continue to strengthen IUU fishing prevention by enforcing central directives and enhancing public awareness and compliance among local fishing communities.
Trial operations at the new public administrative service centres in Thanh Khe and Ngu Hanh Son wards show that the reception and processing of citizens' documents on the new wards’ data system have been smoothly handled by the staff, enabling quick settlement and facilitating easy access to public services for the people.
The event, the 12th of its kind jointly, was jointly organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in Belgium and Chris Geyskens, Chairwoman of the Belgium chapter of the Hoi An – Vietnam Association for Victims of AO/Dioxin.
The Nguyen Du Lao-Vietnamese bilingual school has positioned itself as a prestigious education establishment, nurturing generations of Vietnamese and Lao students while preserving Vietnamese culture and language as well as strengthening the special bonds between the two countries
For households of people with meritorious service and relatives of fallen soldiers, the province supported the construction and renovation of 2,374 houses, achieving 100% of the set target, 342 newly built and 2,032 renovated.
Held under the theme “Pride and Aspiration”, this year's “Glory to Vietnam” programme aimed to inspire the Vietnamese people's ambition to reach new heights during the era of integration and development.
According to the Central Committee of the Vietnam Red Cross Society (VRC), this year’s campaign provided long-term aid for 3,785 individuals and organisations. Support included houses, clean water systems, school meal facilities, books, and livelihood assistance, with a total value of more than 118 billion VND.
The programmes have brought about positive changes to rural infrastructure, comprehensively improved the material and spiritual lives of farmers, and contributed to Vietnam's economic restructuring, said PM Pham Minh Chinh.
The festival highlighted the contributions and robust development of Vietnam's revolutionary press over the past century while promoting press products and showcasing the creativity of Vietnamese journalists.
The programme on sustainable poverty reduction has achieved its annual targets for reducing the poverty rate as assigned by the National Assembly and the Government. It has fulfilled five specific objectives and five five-year goals, and met nine out of 12 indicators related to addressing basic social service shortages.
UNICEF stands ready to support the Government in implementing this important law and in continuing to invest in teachers as the cornerstone of a resilient, inclusive, and high-quality education system for all children.
People with a Vietnamese passport enjoy free entry or are just required an e-visa or a visa on arrival to 55 countries and territories globally. (Photo: VNA) 
