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Hoian is an ancient port town on the Thubon River 30 km south of Danang. Known as Faifo to early Western traders, it was one of the Southeast Asia's major international ports during the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. Hoian was an important port of call for Dutch, Portuguese, Chinese, Japanese, and other trading vessels.

Today parts of Hoian look exactly as they did a century and a half ago. Hoian still preserves hundreds of houses built of precious wood in a very original style of architecture, either one or two storeys, in their complete wholeness. The rafters and beams of these houses are carved with very subtle patterns. These houses date from the first part of the 19th century or earlier give visitors the feeling that they have been transported back a couple centuries ago.

Hoian is one of the rare places in Vietnam where you'll find genuine Vietnamese architecture. Besides this, Hoian is harmonious integration of other architecture styles with the local conditions. There is Japanese quarter linked with a Chinese neighborhood by Japanese Covered Bridge, which was constructed in 1593 by the Japanese Community in Hoian. This bridge reflecting the Japanese preference for understatement, still in its original style attracts many tourists. The Chinese community in Hoian is fond of many temples and Assembly Halls, which are worth visiting again and again.

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I find I am becoming more and more aware of the pro's and con's of adoption in all cases. Especially in the case of disasters, I completely agree that there may be community for these children right where they are and that we could continue to support some of the better organizations--like Save the Children--to do the relief work in those countries.
In general, it's hard to change one's mindset, I'm sure, that children adopted into this country have the best life and should be eternally grateful for being saved from poverty, but is it our desire to fill empty nests more than our understanding of the children? Who's to say that living in the "lap of luxury," in the country that uses more than its share of natural resources, that teaches most of its citizens to consume, is the good life, the life that brings fulfillment?

I agree that caution should be used when adoption is a possible solution to homeless children. But her in the Western world there are many families that would welcome the opportunity to welcome a child into their lives. Wouldn't this be a better option to poverty and starvation?

You are right as rain! What thought and consideration!

I have to agree with you, just as long as there is enough people and individuals in those countries to take the children in and care for them. This is a very large scale disaster and if those countries involved are able to care for those children then I totally agreeing with the written statement below. This of course would be the best for the children. I believe that is what truly matters the most.

I am so thankful for this article. Adoption seems so humane, and would have been an option for me. This article changed my mind! It would be so much better to help the local government with funding to enable these children to stay in their normal environment. What about "adopting" a child financially (like sponsoring)?

Thank you for sharing some thoughts on the question of adoption for the unfortunateTsunami children. I agree wholeheartedly with the train of thought that we keep the traumatised children in their own community as moving them to a completely new and foreign environment will be detrimental to their social as well as emotional well-being. Besides, how do we know that these adoptive parents are genuine? Perhaps we can assist in the following ways:
1. Financial assistance towards construction of houses for orphans and relatives to be able to stay together, as well as for food etc. to be coordinated during the Montreal World Forum in May.
2. Donations of toys, educational materials [exercise books, pencils, pens and other stationery] on a regular basis to be organised into sectors or associations, or countries.
3. Basic counselling workshops to be conducted for selected community member who will be living with or closely in contact with these orphans in their community.

To some extent I agree with keeping the children within their own country and culture because ultimately that is what is best and that is what they know especially those children who are older. We definitely do not want these children to get into the hands of harmful evil people who would only use them for money and I commend the governments for interceding and taking control of the situation. However, we as early childhood educators and infant-toddler specialists know that children especially the youngest need to be touched, held, talked with, showed special attention, need one on one interactions, etc. All that we have been taught and know about forming strong attachments is through close bonding with the adults who care for them. If these orphanages or Mamta Grihas become housing institutions where there are more children than adults who care for them, then these children will continue to suffer. Yes, they are in their culture but is it really kind, humane and like what their parents would have provided or even wanted for their children?

As one who is desiring to adopt whether it be a child from one of these countries, another country, or the United States, it would be my responsibility as a parent to provide the best that I can concerning that child's culture. Yes, we are all naive about what that really means in the real world. What would be ideal in any adoption situation would be for the government or an adoption agency to work with prospective parents to provide them with knowledge and understanding about that child's culture and even the parent's or community/village's culture. Of course there will be obvious differences and ones that can't be helped such as food but it is the heritage that is most important. This is an overwhelming task and whether it is feasible or not, I don't know because it would mean working together to provide the best for the child. In actuality we already trying to promote multi-culturalism in our settings since children from many different cultural backgrounds attend these settings. For adoption, this would be where the home and country culture work together so that the child can still benefit from their home culture but still be able to thrive in a home where they don't have to compete for an adult's love. These are just my thoughts and in the real world we know that everything is much more complicated.

Please pass on my thanks to Vijaya Murthy for sharing insight into a culture that we could only hope to imitate one day in our country! What a powerful message that sends. Perhaps CCIE could instead let us know where we could send donations to assist with the building and operations of one of the Mamta Grihas? Thank you for sharing that touching narrative with us!

Thank you so much for this perspective. I am moved to tears. It feels rare to hear this sort of cultural perspective directly from an expert who is a member the group who could potentially be harmed. I feel privileged to be connected to the larger world of early childhood professionals through ExchangeEveryDay. This is one more case where my perspective has been enriched. Thank you.