NO LONGER ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS

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Thank you for your interest in traveling to Vietnam with the Pacific & Asian Affairs Council (PAAC)!                

Current 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th graders (2024-2025 SY) attending Hawaiʻi public, charter, private, and independent schools are eligible to apply for a chance to be immersed in Vietnamese history, politics, and culture. Students will also learn about global issues, strengthen skills and build a strong sense of community. We will be visiting Hội An, Huế and Hà Nội. 

Advice:
Please read through the entire application carefully before getting started. A view-only document is available to help you prepare your official electronic submission. After doing so, we recommend that you prepare all supplementary documents for upload first. You can also prepare your answers on a separate document and then copy and paste them into this form.    

You may not be able to save your work and return to finish the application later. All application requirements except teacher recommendations are due on January 17, 2025 at 11:59PM. Teacher recommendations will be due on Wednesday, January 22, 2025.

Incomplete applications will NOT be considered.                    

Application Requirements                

1. Completed Student Application (link to Student Application Form)
   
   
2. High School Transcript (email to Ms. Carol Li <paac@paachawaii.org> , unofficial okay)
   
   
3. Two Short Essay Responses (email to Ms. Carol Li)
   
   
4. One Video or Audio Response (email to Ms Carol Li)
   
   
5. Completed Parent Form (link to Parent Form)
   
   
6. Two Teacher/Adult Recommendations due 1/22/25 (link to Teacher Recommendation Form) 

Important Deadlines

• APPLICATION & PARENT FORM DUE: Fri. January 17, 2025 at 11:59PM Hawaii Standard Time (HST)
  
• TWO TEACHER RECOMMENDATIONS DUE: Wed. January 22, 2025 at 11:59PM HST.
  
• INTERVIEWS: February 5-9, 2025

Program Dates (tentative)

• VIRTUAL WELCOME MEETING (with Parents/Guardians): Wednesday, April 2, 2025
• VIRTUAL WORKSHOP MEETING: Wednesday, May 21, 2025
• IN-PERSON PRE-TRIP ORIENTATION: Held on O'ahu from June 2-4, 2025
• TRAVEL DATES: June 7-23, 2025
• POST-TRIP GROUP PRESENTATION: September 12, 2025     

Please note, all program dates listed above (except travel dates) are tentative and will be confirmed as soon as possible. Participation in this program requires attendance on *ALL* program dates. For neighbor island students, PAAC will work with you to arrange transport to O'ahu and lodging during pre-trip orientation.    

The cost of the program is estimated to be between $4200-$4500. Participants accepted into the program will be required to make a non-refundable deposit of $500 to secure their place in the study tour. 

Thanks to the generosity of The Freeman Foundation, in recent years the majority of participants with demonstrated financial need and/or demonstrated commitment to PAAC programs have received merit- and/or need-based financial aid. In most cases, 50-100% of the trip can be covered. To apply, parents must fill out the Financial Information section on the Parent Form. Applicants who are awarded must submit documentation to support their application. The scholarship cannot be used to pay for the trip deposit. Students who have already participated in a Freeman Summer Study Tour to either Korea (2023) or Japan (2024) will not be eligible to receive a scholarship.

As part of the program, you will be expected to write in a group travel blog while conducting yourself with the highest level of professionalism as you will be representing Hawaiʻi while abroad.

Learn more about the Study Tour here: https://www.paachawaii.org/news-and-announcements/apply-now-for-the-2025-freeman-vietnam-summer-study-tour.

If you have any questions, please contact Ms. Carol Li, Study Tours Director at paac@paachawaii.org, (808) 944-7784 or @carol.ssaem on Instagram.