2,000 Vietnam children for adoption to foreign parents this year

Around 2,000 Vietnamese orphans are likely to be adopted by foreigners this year, around a third more than last year, a Justice Ministry official said this week.

Vu Duc Long, head of the ministry?s Department for Adopted Children?s Affairs, said 400 children had been adopted in the first quarter.

He attributed the increase to administrative reforms, saying the average time taken to complete formalities had been reduced from six months to just four now.

France and the US accounted for the maximum number of adoptions last year with 700 and 500 respectively.

Reported by Manh Quan ? Translated by Minh Phat

Source: www.thanhniennews.com

Publication date: 2007 Apr 18

Organizations: Mission de l'adoption internationale (MAI), US State Department, Department of International Adoptions, Vietnam, Bundeszentralstelle fur Auslandsadoptionen