Become Involved

Citizen Diplomacy

Upcoming Citizen Diplomacy Trips:

PeaceTrees is thrilled to be offering one-of-a-kind travel experiences with our Citizen Diplomacy Program in 2024. We are currently seeking applicants for a trip that will run March 9-24, 2024 and be led by Dr. Christoph Giebel, an Associate Professor of International Studies and History at the University of Washington. His research and teaching interests concern 20th c. Viet Nam; Comparative Colonialisms and (French and US) imperialism in (Southeast) Asia; history, historiography, and memory; and the spatial representations of the wars in Viet Nam.

If you are interested in joining this trip, learning more, or getting your name on the list for other future trips, please email us (info@peacetreesvietnam.org), or call our office at 206-441-6136. 

Travel with us for a life-changing experience

Citizen diplomacy and building people-to-people ties is at the heart of PeaceTrees’ work. Profound personal loss, experienced by families on all sides of the war, inspired PeaceTrees’ founders to reach out to the Vietnamese people in the spirit of healing, trust, and understanding between Vietnamese and American citizens.

Our citizen diplomacy trips reach beyond simplistic views and provide an opportunity for travelers to experience Vietnam from a unique and rewarding perspective rarely offered to the average tourist. PeaceTrees’ ambassadors make personal connections with our Vietnamese partners by working alongside them, sharing meals, and planting trees — and making lasting friendships.

Citizen diplomacy has made it possible to create the strong trust and partnership PeaceTrees shares with local communities and Vietnamese leadership. This trust allows us to facilitate genuine opportunities for connection and provides a new perspective on U.S.-Vietnamese relations.

Sample itinerary:

Our trips include several days in central Vietnam, visiting PeaceTrees projects and observing Explosive Ordnance Technicians in the field. Trips also provide an opportunity to explore Vietnam, including its scooter-filled cities, gracious old towns, beautiful beaches, and sobering battlefields. Cost for the trip varies depending on airfare and the number of participating travelers.

A typical trip might include:

Day 1: Depart Seattle

Day 2: Arrive late to Hà Nội

Days 3-4: Orientation briefing, visit with Hà Nội-based PeaceTrees Vietnam Partners; Sightseeing in Hà Nội including Hoàn Kiếm Lake, the Temple of Literature (Vietnam’s first national university built in 1070), Museum of Ethnology, the Old Quarter, and other points of interest

Day 5: Travel to Huế, the seat of Nguyễn Dynasty emperors and the national capital from 1802 to 1945.

Days 6-8: Three days of engagement with PeaceTrees Vietnam’s work, visiting kindergartens and libraries, observing our EOD teams in the field, and community service and tree planting activities will be balanced with opportunities to learn about Quảng Trị Province as it is today as well as before, during, and after the war. Area excursions include the Vĩnh Mốc Tunnels, Cửa Tùng beach, Bến Hải river, Khe Sanh.

Days 9-10: Excursion to Đà Nẵng with visit to Hội An, cooking class

Day 11: Depart for Hồ Chí Minh City, and visit points of interest including the War Remnants Museum and Independence Palace. Farewell dinner

Day 12: Depart for U.S. or extend travel

  • mcknight group
  • Fran's Chocolate
  • State Dept
  • Sahale
  • PerkinsCoie
    PerkinsCoie
  • Flying Good Group
  • Chateau St. Michelle
  • Chinoise
  • Olde Thompson
  • Prolumina
  • Columbia Bank
  • Lustre Cal
  • Red Boat Fish Sauce
  • Veterans for Peace
  • Louisa Davis Properties