I have a secret that I only just tonight shared with my husband. There’s a part of me that wishes we would find ourselves faced with the opportunity to live in Viet Nam for an extended period of time. There is something about leaving behind all of this American life and experiencing Viet Nam from a different level that is incredibly appealing. Honestly, this is shocking to me. I’m a homebody, I love my friends and family and don’t like to go long without seeing them, yet I have a secret desire to live on the other side of the world!

Some American adoptive families who... more

The holidays can be a difficult time of year for many people. All the advice columns, news articles and talk shows are talking about how to combat the holiday blues. One of the most frequently offered pieces of advice is to give of yourself. When you help another person; whether that person lives next door or half a world away, you are also helping yourself. It’s a win-win situation. I was excited to find many programs that offer volunteer opportunities in Viet Nam. What an amazing experience that would be! If you’re... more

We’re quickly approaching the Christmas holiday, and if you’re searching for a way to help another person or you’re still looking for a gift to give that ridiculously hard to shop for person, look no further than the sponsorship of a child or family in Viet Nam. Knowing that your gift will directly help those most in need in Viet Nam can be an incredibly rewarding experience. Here are several organizations that you can purchase a sponsorship through: Humanitarian Services for Children of Viet Nam

Humanitarian Services for Children of Viet Nam (HSCV) has many different types of sponsorships available. You can sponsor... more

Last week I highlighted two wonderful organizations that offer products for sale with their proceeds going directly to help those less fortunate in Viet Nam (please see links below.) As I continued to look for places where our dollars would help someone in need, I came across three more very worthy options. We can speak volumes with our dollars, and supporting organizations such as these sends a strong message of caring and awareness.

Vietnam Compassion Gifts from the East Meets West Foundation

The... more

As I searched online for places that one could shop to help those struggling in Viet Nam, I was pleasantly surprised to come across quite a few organizations that do just that. With the holiday season fully upon us, many are still trying to find meaningful gifts to give. The organization that I’m posting about today; the Catalyst Foundation, has remarkable gift options that will directly help children in need in Viet Nam. Some friends and family members may not fully understand the plight of poverty and disease stricken... more

Erin has posted some great ideas over on the Transracial Adoption Blog for gifts that help other people. To continue on with her idea, I’ve been doing some research to find gifts that you might consider purchasing that directly help the Vietnamese people. I know it’s a little late in the season, but with so many people doing last minute shopping and ordering gifts online, I hope that some will consider the organizations I’ll be featuring.

I have posted about... more

Earlier today the Voices for Viet Nam Adoption Integrity blog published an account of the current state of Viet Nam adoptions from the director of Welcome House adoption agency. I read her words with care and was extremely interested to hear her perception of the current situation. One of the points that jumped clear off my laptop screen was one that concerned a provincial official that she spoke with. This official was disappointed and wondered why adoption agencies from the United States “only send families... more

Last week a reader wrote and asked me if there is a cultural respect issue to using Viet Nam as opposed to Vietnam. I’ve actually been asked this a few times before, and came up with enough material to warrant an entire post about it! As you know, I use Viet Nam in my writing, but it’s really just a matter of personal preference. Viet Nam and Vietnam are both widely recognized and accepted in western writing as being the name of the same country. As I did some digging online I realized that there are many who wondered which of the two spellings is the correct one. Here’s what I found.

Most... more

While doing some research on news coming out of Viet Nam this morning I stumbled across an article about the increasing preference of boys in Viet Nam. Margie Mason’s article “Vietnam’s Preference for Boys Tips Gender Scales in Asia” made me stop watching Jack’s Big Music Show with Ella and read the full article. The title drew me in and I thought my readers would like to hear about Mason’s article.

The article is a result of a report published by the United Nations stating that Viet Nam is becoming more like China and India; where boys are more... more

Please believe me when I tell you that, yes, I am completely and thoroughly aware that these look nothing like traditional mooncakes! As a time strapped mom who wanted to make them myself, this is what I concocted and we were all pretty happy with them. I followed the Asia for Kids recipe that I posted about here, and the directions were really easy to follow and the ingredients were all things we normally have on hand (except for the “fancy” blackberry preserves I purchased just for this occasion.)

I am pleased to tell you that these were some of the most delicious... more