[beccakinn]

Dear fellow discussion board members

We have just cautiously begun our adoption proceedings. Having lived in several third world countries and seen first hand how corruption colours societies, we are doing everything we can to ensure that IF we adopt it is a genuine, and ethical adoption.
We are very happy that the agency we have eventually decided upon are genuine, compassionate and honest.
We are also cautiously optimistic that the newly rewritten rules in Vietnam offer protection to the citizens of that country.
Having read David M. Smolins legal article regarding adoption scandals in India, I am moved to request the following information: If any of you have recently travelled to Vietnam to bring home your child, were you at any stage, asked for additional, unexpected sums of money? I am interested to hear about this, however small the sums may have been. Afterall, the GDP of the US is $43,555, second of 179 countries, and the GDP of Vietnam at $3025 is 123rd. Therein, even small amounts have great significance in this process.
I am not looking to write headlines, to make anyone uneasy or to imply criticism. I am simply trying to use every conceivable angle to inform myself.
Your comments and information are, as ever, greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Becca

[brendanod]

Hi Becca,

We adopted in Vietnam using a facilitator under the Irish/Vietnam Government intercountry Adoption program. We were not asked for any additional money from any source.

Some Irish couples who had adopted in Vietnam were contacted by letter & phone by a person who said they were representing the birthmother looking for $1,000 for an urgent operation. They had got the addresses from the local Ministry of Justice office in Vietnam.

The Vietnamese investigated and it turned out to be a Triad ring who were using the info they had gleaned to extort money. The birthmothers were unaware what was going on.