OUR REPORTING ON INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION
By province: References
to adoption problems
The Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism requested (under the Freedom of Information Act) all documents related to State Department discussions 2007-2008 about possible fraud, corruption, and baby buying or selling in U.S. adoptions from Vietnam. In response, we received hundreds of pages of documents, all of which can be found here.
Within the documents, we found numerous references to particular provinces. Below is a list of all provinces that we found mentioned, with links to their respective documents. However, please note that a great deal of information in these document was redacted, including, in some cases, the references to provinces themselves. Because of these redactions, we do not know whether more provinces were in fact discussed in these documents.
This list also notes the adoption agencies that Vietnam licensed to work in that province as of June 11, 2007, according to Vietnam Voices for Adoption Integrity, which states it took the information from the U.S. Department of State’s Hanoi Embassy's website.
If you have information about agencies that were working in provinces not listed here, please let us know.
| Thai Nguyen | Nam Dihn | Ha Noi | Can Tho |
| Phu Tho | Ha Tay | An Giang | Quang Nam |
| Binh Tuan | Thua Thien-Hue | Thanh Hoa | Ninh Binh |
| Ho Chi Minh | Kien Giang | Quang Ninh | Ben Tre |
Thai Nguyen
Agencies in province, June 11, 2007:
“The last investigation team in this province went to Hospital A, the site of most abandonments in the province…. When they arrived at the appointed time, they found the chief of police in the director’s office. The police chief explained that… they were not allowed in Thai Nguyen province, and asked them to leave.” |
• Investigation Memorandum 7-31-07
“On July 20 and 21 we conducted 5 investigations in Thai Nguyen province…”
• Renewed US concerns about Vietnamese adoptions leave American parents in limbo
“The embassy statement… describes a suspicious surge in reports of abandoned babies after U.S. adoptions resumed, especially in the rural provinces of Thai Nguyen and Phu Tho.”
“… since the American ASPs pulled out of Thai Nguyen, there has been a sharp increase in the number of domestic adoptions in that province.”
“The last investigation team in this province went to Hospital A, the site of most abandonments in the province… they were told that only the director could discuss adoption cases. Accordingly they requested a meeting with the director. When they arrived at the appointed time, they found the chief of police in the director’s office. The police chief explained… they were not allowed in Thai Nguyen province and asked them to leave.”
“Today we received from DIA a copy of a letter sent from DOJ Thai Nguyen… The letter is quite clear in stating that officials in the province have been instructed not to discuss adoption cases with the Embassy…”
“… they state that any information from private citizens in Thai Nguyen that is collected without a local government official present is considered ‘not objective and incorrect’.”
“There are currently 11 blocked investigations in Thai Nguyen. All of these cases involve children deserted at medical facilities in the province, primarily Thai Nguyen Hospital A.”
“The child finder and his wife both told a consular investigating team that they had never found a child and that the story in the child finder statement was a lie.”
“As of April 8, 2008 the following provinces do not allow U.S. officials to conduct independent field inquiries: An Giang, Binh Thanh, Thua Thien Hue, Phu Tho, Quang Nam, Ninh Binh, Thai Nguyen and Thanh Hoa. In addition U.S. officials have not been allowed to conduct independent [field] inquiries at Tu Du hospital in Ho Chi Minh City.”
Nam Dinh
Agencies in province, June 11, 2007:
“…concerns over a recent spike in adoptions from a specific orphanage located in that province.” |
• Consular Activity Update - July 2007
“On July 9 and 10, we conducted a familiarization visit to Nam Dinh province due to concerns over a recent spike in adoptions from a specific orphanage located in that province… the trip resulted in a report and cable.”
“… an investigation team was able to successfully complete 1-604 investigations in Nam Dinh province. Accordingly the province is no longer considered blocked.”
Ha Noi
Agencies in province, June 11, 2007:
- Crossroads Adoption Services
- Faith International Adoption
- Holt International
- Pearl S. Buck International
- Plan Loving Adoption Now: Now closed http://www.planlovingadoptions.org/
“A neighbor describes the house as ‘a place where children are bought and sold’.” |
“On July 26 and 27 we conducted 2 investigations in Hanoi. One case revealed that false information was provided on a child relinquishment document at a local hospital.”
"Abuses include baby buying and farming, as documented in Hanoi cables over the past months."
• Vietnam Adoptions - Backdating Investigations
“…the miraculous arrival of over 30 infant girls at Hanoi Center 1 within five months of… opening… for international adoption is not an atypical trend in Vietnam."
“The recent deaths of eight infants from a Hanoi orphanage highlights the sometimes tragic costs of overcrowding we are seeing in child welfare facilities throughout Vietnam.”
“A neighbor describes the house as ‘a place where children are bought and sold’.”
Can Tho
Agencies in province, June 11, 2007:
“The director of the hospital refused to assist the [investigating] team and prevented them from speaking to hospital officials.” |
“… the External Relations Office has taken steps to prevent the Consulate’s officer from fulfilling his mission by collecting information at the Can Tho Children’s Hospital.”
“The investigating team arrived at the Children’s Hospital to verify two desertion cases. The director of the hospital refused to assist the team and prevented them from speaking to hospital officials.”
“The orphanage director admitted that he never met the birth mother.”
Phu Tho
Agencies in province, June 11, 2007:
- A.D.O.P.P.T., Inc.: Now closed
- Children's Home Society & Family Services (CHSFS)
- Children’s House International
- Orphans Overseas
- Plan Loving Adoption Now: Now closed http://www.planlovingadoptions.org/
- Small World Adoptions
- Vietnamese Orphans Relief Fund: Now closed http://www.adoptvietnam.org/adoptionagencydirectory/VORFadoptionagency.htm
- Wasatch International Adoptions
“A two-day investigation led to troubling new information: financial inducements offered to birth mothers, birth mothers unaware their children are to be adopted by foreign parents, and … financial and psychological tactics to prevent birth mothers from reneging on their promises to relinquish." |
“… the embassy was able to peek behind the curtain of fake abandonments and speak with birth mothers directly. A two-day investigation led to troubling new information: financial inducements offered to birth mothers, birth mothers unaware their children are to be adopted by foreign parents, and the use of financial and psychological tactics to prevent birth mothers from reneging on their promises to relinquish."
• DIA Ambassador Response 11-8-07
“Long stated that DIA would investigate the cases of child buying found by Post in Phu Tho…”
“Dao stated that the Embassy should not focus on Phu Tho, as there were problems in other provinces.”
• Vietnam Temporarily Suspends Adoptions From Phu Tho Province
“The Department of International Adoptions, Ministry of Justice of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam temporarily suspended the referral of new adoption dossiers by U.S. citizens to Phu Tho province due to recent problems with the paperwork of some Vietnamese children.”
"…The DIA has indicated to post that the suspension is a sign of their displeasure with the Embassy's public statement and field investigations… they will continue to allow citizens of other countries to adopt in Phu Tho. This is because these countries are less 'troublesome'."
“allegations of child trafficking in the province”
• Renewed US concerns about Vietnamese adoptions leave American parents in limbo
“The embassy statement… describes a suspicious surge in reports of abandoned babies after U.S. adoptions resumed, especially in the rural provinces of Thai Nguyen and Phu Tho.”
“During the last investigation in this province, the team went to a medical center to speak with a child finder… Upon arrival, they were physically blocked from entering by local police officers who told them they were illegally in the province … The Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee… order[ed] them to leave the province immediately.”
“Phu Tho delays meetings”
“Vinh stated that the request for meetings will be granted, he just didn’t know when.”
“The consular section investigated two relinquishment cases from this village… It was never made clear to the birth mothers that they were relinquishing their children for foreign adoption.”
“According to the child [finder] statement, the child finder was watching TV at her house, when she heard dogs barking. Going to the porch she found two infants. When the consular team visited the house, they discovered that the house had no electricity and no TV.”
“As of April 8, 2008 the following provinces do not allow U.S. officials to conduct independent field inquiries: An Giang, Binh Thanh, Thuah Thien Hue, Phu Tho, Quang Nam, Ninh Binh, Thai Nguyen, and Thanh Hoa. In addition, U.S. officials have not been allowed to conduct independent field inquiries at Tu Du hospital in Ho Chi Minh City.”
Ha Tay
Agencies in province, June 11, 2007:
- Harrah’s International Mission: Now closed
“The wife of an orphanage director (herself an employee of the orphanage) was named as the leader of an infant trafficking ring in Ha Tay province.” |
“Over the past week, major Vietnamese media outlets have highlighted the cases of four individuals arrested for smuggling newborn infants to China… One was an investigative report on a local baby-selling ring in Ha Tay province… citing the collusion of orphanage officials, local officials, medical staff, and possibly high-level officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
“The wife of an orphanage director (herself an employee of the orphanage) was named as the leader of an infant trafficking ring in Ha Tay province…”
An Giang
- Americans for International Aid and Adoptions
- Dillon International
- Los Ninos International Adoption Center
“As of April 8, 2008 the following provinces do not allow U.S. officials to conduct independent field inquiries: An Giang…” |
“…we have been able to complete investigations in An Giang province, and the province is no longer considered as blocked.”
“As of April 8, 2008 the following provinces do not allow U.S. officials to conduct independent field inquiries: An Giang, Binh Thanh, Thuah Thien Hue, Phu Tho, Quang Nam, Ninh Binh, Thai Nguyen, and Thanh Hoa. In addition, U.S. officials have not been allowed to conduct independent field inquiries at Tu Du hospital in Ho Chi Minh City.”
Quang Nam
- Carolina Adoption Services
- Commonwealth Adoption International: Now closed
- Hawaii International Child & Family Services, Inc
- International Assistance and Adoption Project
- Vietnamese Orphans Relief Fund: Now closed http://www.vorf.org
- World Child International
“The director physically blocked the team from entering, prohibited the team from speaking to Orphanage Employees.” |
“Unfortunately, we were blocked from completing investigations in Quang Nam province…”
“The last investigation in this province was on March 21, 2008. The investigating team originally went to Tam Ky Center for Orphan Children, where the director physically blocked the team from entering, prohibited the team from speaking to Orphanage Employees and told them they could only return with permission from Provincial DOJ.”
“On March 21, investigations were blocked in Quang Nam province as a result of two orphanage directors and the provincial Department of Justice denying the investigating team access any case specific records.”
“The guard… burned the logbook and created a new one, with an entry that showed that a child had been deserted on the date in question.”
“As of April 8, 2008 the following provinces do not allow U.S. officials to conduct independent field inquiries: An Giang, Binh Thanh, Thuah Thien Hue, Phu Tho, Quang Nam, Ninh Binh, Thai Nguyen, and Thanh Hoa. In addition, U.S. officials have not been allowed to conduct independent field inquiries at Tu Du hospital in Ho Chi Minh City.”
Binh Tuan / Binh Thuan / Binh Thanh
“…fraud is wide-spread amongst provincial-level officials—and may reach higher still.” |
“… there has been a long history of problems in this province.”
“Fraud concerns in Binh Tuan are high, and there is serious concern that fraud is widespread amongst provincial-level officials—and may reach higher still.”
“During the last investigation in Binh Tuan, we discovered that the local police had visited all of the witnesses/child finders, told them what to say and told them to report their meetings… this was not an isolated incident…”
“As of April 8, 2008 the following provinces do not allow U.S. officials to conduct independent field inquiries: An Giang, Binh Thanh, Thuah Thien Hue, Phu Tho, Quang Nam, Ninh Binh, Thai Nguyen, and Thanh Hoa. In addition, U.S. officials have not been allowed to conduct independent field inquiries at Tu Du hospital in Ho Chi Minh City.”
Thua Thien-Hue
“...we received a diplomatic note… objecting to the investigation and forbidding us from conducting further investigations in the province.” |
“The last investigation in Thua Thien Hue was in the fall of 2007 and resulted in the issuance of a NOID. Shortly after the investigation, we received a diplomatic note… objecting to the investigation and forbidding us from conducting further investigations in the province.”
“As of April 8, 2008 the following provinces do not allow U.S. officials to conduct independent field inquiries: An Giang, Binh Thanh, Thuah Thien Hue, Phu Tho, Quang Nam, Ninh Binh, Thai Nguyen, and Thanh Hoa. In addition, U.S. officials have not been allowed to conduct independent field inquiries at Tu Du hospital in Ho Chi Minh City.”
“…the investigating team arrived at the orphanage to review the cases of two children purportedly deserted there. Initially the director was cordial to the team, and permitted them to tour the facility. In the middle of the tour, however, the director returned and apologetically told the team that… the police and People’s Committee had ordered him to have the team leave the orphanage immediately.”
“Post today formally requested meetings with provincial officials in Thanh Hoa and Thua Thien Hue to discuss blocked investigations in those provinces.”
Thanh Hoa
“…shortly after the interview began the police arrived and ordered the [U.S. investigative] team to leave the province.” |
“While the last investigation team in this province was speaking with the orphanage director, two police officials arrived and told the team that they were illegally in Thanh Hoa province. After this, the team traveled to a different district and began to interview a child finder, shortly after the interview began the police arrived and ordered the team to leave the province.”
“As of April 8, 2008 the following provinces do not allow U.S. officials to conduct independent field inquiries: An Giang, Binh Thanh, Thuah Thien Hue, Phu Tho, Quang Nam, Ninh Binh, Thai Nguyen, and Thanh Hoa. In addition, U.S. officials have not been allowed to conduct independent field inquiries at Tu Du hospital in Ho Chi Minh City.”
“Post today formally requested meetings with provincial officials in Thanh Hoa and Thua Thien Hue to discuss blocked investigations in those provinces.”
• 6 Vietnamese Arrested for Allegedly Trying to Sell 2 Newborn Babies in China
“A… Chinese woman asked someone to buy an infant in Thanh Hoa Province on May 7.”
Ninh Binh
“When the team arrived … the director then told the team that they were not welcome at the orphanage.” |
“Today an Embassy team was blocked in Ninh Binh province. When the team arrived at the orphanage, where we have conducted successful investigations in the past… the director then told the team that they were not welcome at the orphanage…”
“As of April 8, 2008 the following provinces do not allow U.S. officials to conduct independent field inquiries: An Giang, Binh Thanh, Thuah Thien Hue, Phu Tho, Quang Nam, Ninh Binh, Thai Nguyen, and Thanh Hoa. In addition, U.S. officials have not been allowed to conduct independent field inquiries at Tu Du hospital in Ho Chi Minh City.”
Ho Chi Minh
- A.D.O.P.P.T.. Inc.: Now closed http://www.adopptinc.com/
- Adoption From The Heart
- Adoptions International, Inc.
- Children’s Hope International
- Children’s House International
- Faith International Adoption
- Florida Home Studies and Adoptions, Inc.
- International Children’s Alliance: Now closed http://www.adopting.com/aicainc/
- Lutheran Social Service Minnesota
- Mandala Adoption Services: Now closed http://www.mandalaadoption.org/; Mandala cases acquired by Carolina Adoption Services http://www.carolinaadoption.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/Carolina-Adoption-Services-2009-Annual-Report.pdf
- Pearl S. Buck International
- World Child International
“…attempts to secure cooperation from Tu Du Hospital have led to bureaucratic run arounds.” |
“Previous attempts to secure cooperation from Tu Du hospital have led to bureaucratic run arounds. We are pushing forward in the hope that the results will be different this time, but note that expectations should be kept low.”
• 6 Vietnamese Arrested for Allegedly Trying to Sell 2 Newborn Babies in China
“Initial investigation showed that the four men and two women were paid by ring leaders in Ho Chi Minh City… to transport the two babies to China for sale…”
“The child is still facing severe medical problems, in part due to the concealed medical records at the hospital in HCMC.”
“As of April 8, 2008 the following provinces do not allow U.S. officials to conduct independent field inquiries: An Giang, Binh Thanh, Thuah Thien Hue, Phu Tho, Quang Nam, Ninh Binh, Thai Nguyen, and Thanh Hoa. In addition, U.S. officials have not been allowed to conduct independent field inquiries at Tu Du hospital in Ho Chi Minh City.”
Tu Du Hospital
Kien Giang
“An April 9 investigation of a relinquishment case in Kien Giang province revealed that the biological parents had sent their child to a hospital for medical treatment a few days after her birth only to discover three days later that their child had disappeared.”
Quang Ninh
Agencies in province:
“…the border army arrested two people who were trying to bring a baby boy across the border.” |
“At 1:30am on May 11, the police of Mong Cai Town in Quang Ninh Province and the border army arrested two people who were trying to bring a baby boy across the border.”
Ben Tre
“When [the midwife] meets a poor woman with an unexpected pregnancy, she gives that woman money in exchange for agreeing to put that child in [redacted orphanage.” |
"When [the midwife] meets a poor woman with an unexpected pregnancy, she gives that woman money in exchange for agreeing to put that child in [redacted orphanage].”
The following provinces did not have any FOIA documents listed:
None of the following provinces where U.S. agencies were reported to have been licensed were mentioned in the State Department documents received under the Schuster Institute’s Freedom of Information Act request. The adoption agencies listed were, according to Vietnam Voices for Adoption Integrity, licensed to work in that province as of June 11, 2007. If you have information about agencies that were working in provinces not listed here, please let us know.
Ba Ria- Vung Tau
- Florida Home Studies and Adoptions, Inc.
- Plan Loving Adoptions Now: Now closed http://www.planlovingadoptions.org/
Bac Giang
- Asian Children’s Services and Vietnam Humanitarian Corp.: Now closed
Bac Ninh
- Faith International Adoption
- Asian Children’s Services and Vietnam Humanitarian Corp: Now closed
- World Child International
Binh Duong
- Adoption Center of Washington
- XXAdoptions International, Inc.
- Children’s House International
- Holt International
Ca Mau
- Vietnamese Orphans Relief Fund: Now closed http://www.vorf.org
Cao Bang
Da Nang
- Carolina Adoption Services
- Commonwealth Adoption International
- Holt International
- International Assistance and Adoption Project
- Rainbow House International
- Vietnamese Orphans Relief Fund: Now closed http://www.vorf.org
Dong Nai
Dong Thap
Ha Nam
- Little Pearls Adoption Agency: Now closed
- Orphans Overseas
Ha Tinh
- Asian Children’s Services and Vietnam Humanitarian Corp.: Now closed
Hai Duong
Hoa Binh
- Gift of Love International Adoptions, Inc.: Now closed http://www.giftoflove.org
Hua Giang
Hue
Hung Yen
- A.D.O.P.P.T.. Inc.: Now closed http://www.adopptinc.com
- Florida Homestudies & Adoption, Inc.
Khank Hoa
Lam Dong
Lang Son
Lao Cai
Nghe An
- Ventures for Children International: Now closed http://www.venturesforchildren.org/
Ninh Thaun
Quang Binh
Quang Ngai
Soc Trang
Thai Binh
- Harrah’s Adoptions International Mission: Now closed http://www.hsfadopt.org
- World Association for Children & Parents (WACAP)
Thai Nguyen
Tuyen Quang
Vinh Long
- Children’s Home Society and Family Services (CHSFS)
- Children’s Hope International
- Dillon International
Vinh Phuc
Yen Bai
Back to topNOTE: This page from the Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism website offers documentation of and background about serious irregularities in international adoption. For the systemic analysis of corruption in international adoption, please read “The Lie We Love,” Foreign Policy magazine, Nov./Dec. 2008, and visit our webpages dedicated to international adoption. For ideas about fairer policy solutions, please read “The Baby Business,” Democracy Journal, Summer 2010.
© 2008-2014 Schuster Institute for Investigative Journalism, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, 02454. All rights reserved.
Last page update: February 22, 2011