Vietnam Birthland Tours                                                                   

We have six families who have already committed to a Birthland Tour to take their children adopted from Vietnam back to see the country.  They will enjoy a few weeks of vacation in this beautiful land of their children's birth, and a big plus this time of year is that the weather is cool!  They will depart around December 19th, 2009 and return January 3rd, 2010 (each family can set their own departure and return dates as needed). The trip will include a visit to the child's orphanage and/or adoption city, birth hospitals, possible connection with foster or birthfamily (if desired); a group visit to an orphanage and to schools, fun days in Hanoi, an overnight cruise on HaLong Bay, a visit to a Muong ethnic group's village in the hills, etc. They will also spend five days in Central Vietnam, volunteering for Peace Trees Vietnam (planting trees), and sightseeing in Hue and Hoi An. Side trips to other places, including, for example, Ho Chi Minh City, can be arranged. The trip is arranged by Xiumin Overall and Marcy Gitt, MSW, sponsored by Adoptions Together (but open to families who adopted through any agency), and accompanied by tour guides and translators in-country, as well as Shigu, who accompanied some AT families on their journey of adoption in Vietnam. References from the previous Winter Break 2008-09 tour are available upon request.