The key thing to keep in mind here is that even though the accusations from the US Embassy are aimed at the Vietnam program, what’s really at the core here is the behaviour of the agencies- often AMERICAN agencies- who, by the way operate in many counties, not just Vietnam.

The Embassy can rightly say Vietnam appears to have failed in its efforts to police the adoption racket, but what we’re really talking about here is Vietnam’s inability to reign in (often US) agencies and their oftentimes squalid maternity camps and donation systems designed to generate children made available quota systems.

Naturally, the agencies, now that they will have to close down their operations in Vietnam will now assumedly attempt to find these PAPs (who drive the market in the first place) kids from some other country. And what ‘guarantee’ do we have that they won’t simply continue the same methodologies in other countries? Well none, of course.

It’s very whack-a-mole. Vietnam closes down the programs, the same kinds of programs run by the same people resurface somewhere else, or more to the point, are likely ALREADY up and running somewhere else.

That said, I think there may well be something to Vietnam’s anger at the US pointing its finger at them as if they were the only culpable ones here.

For the moment, though, this has given those of us critical of the system certain tools, not the least of which being the US Embassy in Hanoi’s summary; Adopted Children Immigrant Visa Unit, Summary of Irregularities in Adoptions from Vietnam document, which as I was saying last night on the other thread is not only a terribly important read, it’s a rare document chronicling the abuses that ultimately were done by many US agencies.

It’s up to us to ensure that comes back to haunt them later, WHEN (not if) they pull this next, in yet other countries still.

I then did a bit of digging to come up with a current US Embassy list of US agencies working in Vietnam:

Adopted Children Immigrant Visa Unit
ADOPTION AGENCIES LICENSED IN VIETNAM

This listing includes all American Adoption Agencies currently licensed by the Government of Vietnam’s Department of International Adoptions (DIA). DIA advises that prospective adoptive parents should deal with these agencies only. Prospective parents should make sure the agency chosen is licensed in the province from which you desire to adopt.

1.
A.D.O.P.P.T Inc.: Phu Tho, Hung Yen, Ho Chi Minh City
2. Adopt International: Ben Tre
3. Adoption Center of Washington: Binh Thuan, Binh Duong
4. Adoption from the Heart: Ho Chi Minh City
5. Adoptions International Inc.: Ho Chi Minh City, Binh Duong
6. Adoptions Together, Inc.: Hoa Binh, Thanh Hoa
7. Alliance for Children: Thua Thien Hue
8. Americans for International Aids and Adoptions: An Giang
9. Asian Children’s Services and Vietnam Humanitarian Corp: Ha Tinh, Bac Ninh, Bac Giang, Thai Binh
10. Carolina Adoption Services: Tuyen Quang, Phu Tho, Quang Ninh, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Yen Bai
11. Children’s Home Society and Family Services (CHSFS): Phu Tho, Ben Tre, Binh Thuan, Vinh Long
12. Children’s Hope International: Ho Chi Minh City, Kien Giang, Vinh Long
13. Children’s House International: Ho Chi Minh City, Phu Tho, Binh Duong
14. Commonwealth Adoption International: Da Nang, Quang Nam, Bac Giang
15. Crossroads Adoption Services: Hanoi, Nam Dinh
16. Dillon International: Lam Dong, Ninh Thuan, Vinh Long, An Giang, Can Tho
17. Faith International Adoption: Bac Ninh, Can Tho, Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City, Nam Dinh
18. Families Thru International Adoption: Thanh Hoa, Quang Binh, Lao Cai
19. Florida Home Studies and Adoptions, Inc.: Ba Ria- Vung Tau, Ho Chi Minh City, Ninh Binh, Hung Yen, Vinh Long
20. Gift of Love International Adoptions, Inc.:Hoa Binh
21. Harrah’s Adoptions International Mission: Thai Binh, Ha Tay
22. Hawaii International Child & Family Services, Inc.: Quang Nam
23. Holt International: Da Nang, Binh Duong, Dong Nai, Ha Noi
24. International Assistance and Adoption Project: Da Nang, Quang Nam, Kien Giang, Soc Trang
25. International Children’s Alliance: Ho Chi Minh City
26. Little Pearls Adoption Agency: Ha Nam, Nam Dinh
27. Los Ninos International Adoption Center: An Giang, Nam Dinh, Ninh Thuan
28. Lutheran Community Services of South New England Inc.: Ninh Binh
29. Lutheran Social Service Minnesota: Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Thap, Quang Tri
30. Mandala Adoption Services: Ho Chi Minh City, Thanh Hoa
31. New Beginnings: Vinh Phuc, Cao Bang, Hai Duong
32. Orphans Overseas: Ha Nam, Nam Dinh, Ha Giang, Lai Chau
33. Pearl S. Buck International: Ha Noi, Ho Chi Minh City, Khanh Hoa
34. Plan Loving Adoption Now: Ha Noi, Phu Tho, Ba Ria- Vung Tau
35. Rainbow House International: Da Nang
36. Small World Adoption Foundation of Missouri: Phu Tho
37. Ventures for Children International: Nghe An
38. Vietnamese Orphans Relief Fund: Phu Tho, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Ca Mau
39. Wasatch International: Phu Tho
40. World Association for Children & Parents (WACAP): Thai Binh
41. World Child International: Thai Nguyen, Lang Son, Quang Nam, Ho Chi Minh City, Bac Ninh, Quang Ngai
42. Worldwide Adoption Services (WAS): Hau Giang