Phu Tho
"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."
Vietnam Adoption Fraud: No Going Back: Birth Mothers Unaware Children Up For International Adoption
… 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.
More from Foreign Policy
Saudi-Iranian Détente Is a Wake-Up Call for America
The peace plan is a big deal—and it’s no accident that China brokered it.
The U.S.-Israel Relationship No Longer Makes Sense
If Israel and its supporters want the country to continue receiving U.S. largesse, they will need to come up with a new narrative.
Putin Is Trapped in the Sunk-Cost Fallacy of War
Moscow is grasping for meaning in a meaningless invasion.
How China’s Saudi-Iran Deal Can Serve U.S. Interests
And why there’s less to Beijing’s diplomatic breakthrough than meets the eye.
Sign up for Morning Brief
Foreign Policy’s flagship daily newsletter with what’s coming up around the world today. Delivered weekdays.
By submitting your email, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use and to receive email correspondence from us. You may opt out at any time.
