Vietnamese passport is still among world's least powerful in a global passport power ranking. (Photo by Shutterstock/Huy Thoai)

The 2019 Passport Index, commissioned by Arton Capital, a global financial advisory firm based in Singapore, shows that people holding a Vietnamese passport have visa-free access to 61 countries and territories, compared to 56 last year. The index is based on the number of countries the holder can visit without first obtaining a visa or applying for one on entry. Singapore and Malaysia have the most powerful passports in Southeast Asia.  The United Arab Emirates managed once again to claim the most powerful passport in the world. Its citizens are able to visit 173 countries and territories without applying for a visa. Finland, Luxembourg and Spain shared second place. Japan, South Korea and the US came in third.