A new helmet law has been passed in Viet Nam requiring the wearing of a helmet when on a motorbike. Annual governmental reports state that traffic accidents in the country result in approximately 13,000 fatalities (half of which are caused by brain injuries) and 11,000 injuries. I cringe to think that I zipped around Hanoi without a helmet!

The government’s Resolution 32 states that all motorbike riders (drivers and passengers) must be wearing a protective helmet. The resolution went into effect on December 15th and will be enforced on every road in the country. Those not... 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

Most of us in the adoption world have heard of the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption, but I for one, was confused by it. The term ‘Hague’ is thrown around regularly when international adoption is discussed, but I never really understood what that meant, other than it had something to do with regulating international adoption. On Wednesday the United States ratified the Hague Convention. In an effort to find out what all of this means, I did some research because I’m tired of being confused and wanted to know how/if this ratification would affect my family... 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

Last Christmas Ella had been home a little less than two months. She was only eight months old and had no idea what was going on around her during all the festivities. She actually conked right out in the middle of opening presents and slept on the floor right in front of the tree.

This year is an incredibly different story. My now twenty (20!!!) month old is thrilled with the changes that she’s seen in our house, especially the lights. Every morning she insists that the first thing we do upon arriving down stairs is turn on the lights on the Christmas tree. The very... more

Yesterday the United States became a full member of the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption. Starting April 1, 2008, the US will follow the guidelines laid out in the Hague concerning intercountry adoptions with other member countries. You can read the full Intercountry Adoption Act of 2000 here. According to the Hague’s main website, Viet Nam is not a member country.

Although the US had... more

United States Ambassador Maura Harty recently gave an interview to Vietnam Television in Viet Nam. The US Embassy in Hanoi has posted a transcript of the interview on their website here. Relations between the US and Viet Nam were discussed, as was the current state and future of intercountry adoptions.

With prospective adoptive parents (PAPs) worried about the future of Viet Nam’s adoption program, we’re looking for any information we can find. The current Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which is the agreement between the US and Viet Nam that opened up the doors to intercountry adoptions is coming up for review. The MOU is... more