Continued from part 1…

The orphanage must demonstrate that the child’s biological parent(s), guardian(s), or whoever has legal custody of the child have irrevocably released the child for foreign adoption. In some cases, the orphanage may already have such a release statement on file. Otherwise, the orphanage must obtain the release statement from the parent(s) or guardian(s). The orphanage director then signs a document stating that the orphanage consents to release the child, either to the prospective adoptive parents or their agents. The prospective parents' names should be specified in the Vietnamese version of this document.

All efforts must... more

The following information is about the process to adopt from Viet Nam that starts when your agency begins the process to match you with a child. Some agencies work differently than others. Some may issue you a referral before your dossier* is completed, while others may wait for your dossier to be done and submitted before a match is made. Before getting near to the steps below, you will have chosen an agency, completed your home study and will be working on or have completed your dossier.

*your dossier is the collection of documents... more

I had read about the streets of Hanoi; the motorbikes, the honking, the difficulty crossing the street. But to witness it myself was nothing short of amazing. We got our first taste of how the city lives our first night in our hotel. The honking never stops. Literally. It continues 24 hours a day! We had a room that faced a small street and we were fascinated with the noise. It would die down from time to time, but it would never completely stop. It actually became kind of soothing, believe it or not! And the honking in Viet Nam is nothing like the... more

We had our first (and only) post placement visit yesterday morning and it went very well! Our social worker B did our home visit for our home study as well as our post placement, so it was really nice to see her. It’s amazing how different this visit was compared to our home study. Before the home study my husband and I were so nervous and had cleaned the house top to bottom and talked about how we would respond to questions and all the normal pre-home study antics that go along with being interviewed in your home by someone who is going to determine... more

Soon after arriving in Viet Nam, another family in our group who had been in country previously and were familiar with the area, took us down to Hoan Kiem Lake (also known as Turtle Lake). After this first trip, we wound up choosing to go down by the lake frequently and became quite familiar with the area. You can try every kind of cuisine, find all kinds of shopping and even take in a water puppet show in this area of Hanoi.

That first day at the lake we walked the perimeter and I spotted a small group of artists working on their renderings of the lake and the surrounding area. I love that in this photo the lake is the focus. The artists actually appear to be in the shadows, and... more

This article appeared in the Chicago Tribune yesterday, January 10, 2007.

Foreign-adoption boom is ending

By David Crary, Associated Press; AP writer Audra Ang in Beijing contributed to this report Published January 10, 2007

NEW YORK -- After tripling over the past 15 years, the number of foreign children adopted by Americans dropped sharply in 2006.

The consequences could be profound for the ever-growing numbers of Americans interested in adopting abroad. Already, the hopes of some have been quashed by tightened eligibility rules in China.

Declines were recorded last year in nearly all countries that recently have been the top sources... more

The following is the list of adoption agencies licensed by Viet Nam's Department of International Adoptions. The agency name is followed by the province(s) that agency is licensed to work in.

1. A.D.O.P.P.T Inc.: Phu Tho, Hung Yen, Ho Chi Minh City 2. Adopt International: Ben Tre 3. Adoption Center of Washington; Binh Thuan, Binh Duong 4. Adoption from the Heart: Ho Chi Minh City 5. Adoptions International Inc.,: Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong 6. Adoptions Together, Inc., : Hoa Binh, Thanh Hoa 7. Alliance for Children: Thua Thien Hue 8. Asian Children's Services and Vietnam Humanitarian Corp:... more

How to Choose an Adoption Agency (Viet Nam specific)

Continued from Part One

Decide just how much hand holding you would like. Personally, I wanted a great deal of support through the entire process, and chose an agency that offered that. Some agencies (mine included) arrange your travel, submit your dossier and assist you the entire time in country. There are others who leave a lot up to you to figure out on your own. Be sure to find out exactly what the agency assists you with. I wrote about humanitarian work and ethical practices in part one, but strongly... more

How to Choose an Adoption Agency (Viet Nam specific)

Choosing the adoption agency that is going to facilitate you bringing your child home is a very important decision. I believe it is a decision that warrants a great deal of research and time before any kind of commitment is made.

Here are some ideas to consider when selecting an agency:

Attend information sessions given by agencies in your area. Even if you don’t decide to sign on with one of these agencies, it will still be valuable to you to hear how different agencies work. Remember, you can work with any agency in the country for your adoption. It’s only your home study agency who must be licensed in... more

Continued from parts one and two.

When the bilateral agreement was signed between the U.S. and Viet Nam there was a happy buzz throughout the adoption community. It was hoped (and, likely, assumed) that the new adoption system would be centralized and predictable and the U.S. would be able to have a long, positive relationship with Viet Nam while finding families for the country's children.

Although adoptions are up and running today (the first agencies were licensed in January of 2006),... more