This post is #2 in the series of posts that will take you step by step through the process of adopting a child from Viet Nam.

After you have made the decision to adopt a child, you’ll next have to decide where that child will be from. Assuming that you have already decided that an international adoption is for you, you will next need to ask yourself what country you would like to adopt from. Have you always had your heart set on adopting from a certain part of the world? Do you qualify to adopt from the country that is your first choice?

Countries have their own set of requirements regarding adoptive parents. Age, sexual orientation, length of marriage, health issues and number of children in the home can all be factors. In order to adopt from Viet Nam you must be: twenty years older than the child you will be adopting; married or a single heterosexual adult; able to care for, support and educate a child; have good ethical qualities, and never have had your parental rights revoked. Vietnamese law does not make any mention of marriage length, or stating a gender preference, so if you see regulations about these points, it is an agency rule, not a country rule.

Vietnamese children that are available for adoption range in age from infancy to fifteen years old. Any child over the age of nine must consent in writing to their adoption. Children are cared for in government run institutions. These can range from very small, sparsely populated baby centers to very large, overcrowded centers. When choosing an agency, be sure to ask about the baby centers they support.

Current issues in Vietnamese adoption can be found here and here. Documented cases of baby selling and unethical adoption practices are being discussed by the US Embassy and is cause for concern to those involved in adopting from Viet Nam. Despite the current issues at hand, it’s important to remember that there are many wonderful agencies and children in need of families. As adoptive and prospective adoptive parents, we need to make decisions based on the best interests of the children involved.

When you adopt from Viet Nam, you will be required to make one trip lasting approximately two to three weeks. You will be required to have one post placement visit upon returning home and to send post placement reports to Viet Nam every six months for the first three years and then annually until your child turns eighteen.

Once you have decided that you would like to adopt from Viet Nam, you will need to start researching how to choose an adoption agency. Please see my next post about choosing a Viet Nam adoption agency.


More Reading:

Making the Decision to Adopt
Deciding to Adopt a Child, Where do you Feel Led?
Children Available for Adoption from Viet Nam