A TWIG CLOSER TO THE NEST

Fantastic news to start our 3 year wedding anniversary today - just got word from TDH that our Ministry Approval arrived on Sept 7, and that she has since sent out our Dossier package to Vietnam on September 20. Wow!!!! We are so excited to be moving forward again!!! We are now on the official and final list; for a proposal of a child of either gender between 0 to 36 months old. Currently, we are in the line up range of 75-80 people ahead of us - as for a time frame, and due to our new circumstance, we will not expect a proposal to come for another 2 years, which will work out perfectly.

SCRAMBLED EGGS

The scrambling is over, the panic is no more…the bomb has been dropped and our AP and Agency have been notified that we are pregnant. To my surprise, all seemed thrilled, phew! I wasn’t sure how that was going to go over, but I can now sigh with relief and lower my anxiety. I gather it is because we have continued to pursue our adoption plan regardless of conceiving. In accordance to Ministry request, we will need to have an 18 month delay been the age of children. I think this is sounds perfectly logical and appropriate for our family. Hope I hear word from TDH soon – it has been awhile!

ONE EGG IN THE BASKET, ONE IN THE OVEN

Well, the unplanned, unthinkable yet unbelievable has occurred. We have been given word that we are going to become parents in April 2011. That’s right – I’m going to be mommy sooner than we thought, a dream come true - literally! To make matters more interesting for my fellow blog-reading folk, here’s the kicker… the baby we are expecting is not from overseas, in fact, it is not even Vietnamese - but rather growing and kicking inside my belly!

Yup – were miraculously pregnant, go figure! Just over 3 months and counting. The man above sure works in mysterious ways and that stork of his must have been on steroids. All the same, we are delighted and excited. Wow – imagine that, biologically pregnant and paper pregnant all at the same time…bet that’s an oddity.

Do not dismay, we are still going ahead with our plan to adopt from Vietnam. This changes nothing, well, it certainly changes things, but not in our commitment to bring home our little Dragonfly. We will, however, need to delay things somewhat (obviously) and decide when and how to tell the agency. We will also need to revise our paperwork to reflect our new family circumstance.

THE STORK IS SOARING

Dossier completed and mailed to agency for translation. Hurray!

With the sun shining and flying high above the bamboo trees, our Vietnamese stork has begun his journey to Canada. He has a long way to travel (over 7839 miles over land and sea) before he finds himself at our front door step. Carrying with him, our most precious gift; the paperwork containing the proposal of our children. Now that we are considered paper-ready, a proposal could come at any time. Although we are not likely to receive one for quite awhile, I am trying to stay optimistic. Hopeful that our stork is strong, he finds his way to us without delay – is yesterday too soon to ask for?

WORRY FREE, CHICKADEE

Deep breathe. Pour a hot cup of tea and sigh. We are ‘paper ready’ and happy to have the ‘normality’ of our life back. No more running around town for signatures, no more people invading I mean, accessing our family, no more mountain tops of paperwork to fill out. It’s all done.

I will admit that I feel bitter-sweet about where we are at in our journey. I am confident in our decision to adopt two dragonflies and overjoyed that we are done the tedious tasks but I am also feeling this next stage is going to be the most difficult. We are now at the point where we can no longer contribute to the ‘moving forward’ aspect and that’s hard to swallow. The ball is no longer in our court. Helpless to our entrusted agency and the birth country of our children-to-be, all we can do is wait.

A BIRD IN HAND IS WORTH 2 IN THE BUSH

1 year, 2 weeks and 1 day (but who’s counting) since we began our process to adopt, it is now legally official! As of yesterday evening at 7:30pm we finally have our completed Homestudy in hand, signed with approval granted from our practitioner. Out of the 30+ pages of Marris-Walker information overkill, the last and final page states;

As a certified adoption practitioner of Ontario, I hereby approve D. and J. for the trans-cultural, trans-racial international adoption of a healthy Vietnamese twin/sibling group under the age of 3.5 years.

Last night, I slept soundly for the first time in I don’t know when. With this stage completed, we are considered paper ready and on to the next and final task; Compiling our Dossier for Vietnam. A Dossier is a set of legal documents and adoption papers which will include our homestudy package, marriage license, financial statements, health certificates, medicals, passport copies, citizenship information and the list goes on and on. The package is huge and overwhelming but we are almost done and will be sending it off to our agency early next week. Once we here back from the ministry, our agency will have it all translated and sent overseas – this is called DTV (Dossier to Vietnam) Then we wait to be LID (Logged into the Vietnam Directory) Then we wait...and wait and wait some more until our agency gives us "THE CALL" - word that we have been ‘matched’ and that a proposal is on it’s way to us. So exciting...

NESTING

What is nesting? The term nesting means that you are preparing your nest for your young. Yes, just like a proud momma bird. Some say it is instinct, other’s say it is your body’s way of saying that you are ready for those late night feedings. Personally, I think it’s both and I am definitely going through it. Fix this, child proof that, move this, hang that, clean this… discard, discard, discard. I'm driving my poor husband bananas.

Although there are many similarities between a natural pregnancy and going through the ‘waiting parent’ process of adoption, there have been a few comments made recently that have irked me and I feel the need to vent and clarify. Over this past weekend, I had someone say to me “Oh, your so lucky adoption is easy and you don’t have to go through any check ups, pregnancy side effects or labour”. At the time, I just smiled and said nothing but in retrospect, I wish I had voiced my opinion. Since the time for that has pasted and I am certainly not going to bring it back up with this individual, I though I would just make my case here and beg to differ!

Pregnancy: 9 month term
Adoption: potentially living years with a ‘god only knows’ uncertainty

Pregnancy: joyfully announcing pregnancy to family and friends and having tremendous support
Adoption: joyfully announcing adoption plans to friends and family; getting happy reactions from some while others are unsure or down right hate the idea.

Pregnancy: Having to deal with belly rubs from random individuals (many of whom do not ask permission)
Adoption: Having to deal with endless questions and comments that are frankly no ones business, many of which are ignorant and inappropriate.

Pregnancy: Nine months worth of doctor appointments
Adoption: Nine+ months of paperwork, training, criminal record checks, and psychiatric evaluation.

Pregnancy: Morning sickness
Adoption: Nausea and anxiety during the wait to be given approval to adopt and then after accepting a child referral from a million miles away, having to wait and wonder if your child is ok for the next 5-11months before you can go pick them up and have them safely in your arms.

Pregnancy: Swollen Ankles
Adoption: Migraine after migraine.

Pregnancy: 25-35 baby pounds
Adoption: 25-35 stress pounds

Pregnancy: Worrying about how to financially cope during
50 weeks of paid maternity leave
Adoption: Worrying about how finance the adoption related fees (then pay it back) and then worry about how to financially cope during 35 weeks of paid parental leave – even though you’re off work for 50.

Pregnancy: Trying to form a maternal connection to your unborn child when it
moves and grows inside you
Adoption: Trying to form a maternal connection to a photograph and description of your child

Pregnancy: Planning a nursery for a newborn
Adoption: Planning a nursery for a child(s) with unknown age.

Pregnancy: reading what to expect when your expecting and anything
related to bringing home a newborn
Adoption: reading all adoption literature available on loss, cross cultural upbringing, teaching ‘sense of self’, identity development, language and culture shock, abandonment etc.

Pregnancy: Painful Labour (Epi) and Delivery
Adoption: Painfully long wait, Long Flights, (No drugs)

Pregnancy: Filing for EI, Child Tax Credits, Birth Certificate, SIN card etc.
Adoption: Filling for Guardianship, Immigration, Citizenship, Passports, EI, Child Tax Credits, Birth Certificate, SIN card etc.

Believe me, this is the short list - I could have continued for days. Pregnancy is not easy and neither is the adoption process. We all pay our dues while following the path to parenthood. Both similar and different, the final goal is the same – to have healthy, happy children and become a family.

Just because it does not grow in my belly does not mean it does not grow in my heart!

DOUBLE YOKE

I’m still trying to wrap my head around the idea I could become a mom of two dragonflies...2 sets of ten tiny fingers and ten tiny toes. I can't even imagine!  I have spent the last year preparing my mind and home for a single baby and now, I need to revise the plan in order to prepare for the chance of two dragonflies. Most people request a single child, and although there is no guarantee we will receive referrals for two children, the odds are in our favour and we hoping this is what we will be presented with. We have left ourselves open to any age group category (twins or split group) that becomes available under 3 years; doing so allows more opportunity for us to be matched more quickly – and it can’t come soon enough for us.

In the mean time, hubby and I are getting to know our new god-daughter Stella, doing some home renovations, enjoying the cottage and trying to come up with options for a second name; one for a boy and another for a girl. It’s tough enough trying to come up with one, much less more.

VUNG TAU SPONSORSHIP PROGRAM

HELP CHANGE THE LIFE OF A CHILD!
In Vietnam, single parenthood is not accepted, and children are abandoned because of this prejudice as well as poverty. Increasingly, children are orphaned because of AIDS. Many of these children are not “qualified” as adoptable and will forever be institutionalized until age of majority. Orphanages are not supplemented by the government and therefore the daily operations and child care run solely on goodwill donations.

Considering this orphanage (1 of 4) could very well be the one my own children come from, I urge you to at least consider the option and help support the cause.

Both boys and girls are in the sponsorship program, from a wide range of ages as well as those with special needs.

Upon signing your commitment to sponsor a child from the Vung Tau Children’s Protection Centre, you will learn your child’s name, birth date and social situation. You will receive updates at least once a year, along with pictures as I mentioned above.

Sponsorship payments are to be made by direct bank transfer. This commitment can be cancelled at any time by either party at any time. Sponsorship ceases when the child turns 18, is adopted, is returned to its biological family, or should the child die.

The director of Vung Tau has described how happy the kids are when they learn that they have been sponsored. When they receive mail from their sponsors, they run around the whole orphanage showing all their friends their letter and pictures from their “Canadian” parents. Remember, your’re as close to a parent they will ever experience. They get excited to know that someone a million miles away cares about “just them”. Travelling to visit your sponsored child is also an option.

The suggested donation is only $300 a year. That’s less than 90 cents a day.

The sum goes towards the direct care of the children; food, medication, school supplies and clothing. The money that is sent is not only used for your sponsored child, but the benefit of ALL the children - as not all children have sponsors.

The director of the orphanage has personally committed to send news and updated pictures of the sponsored children every year, more often is possible. Personal gifts sent for your sponsored child will not be accepted, as many children do not have sponsors and it would seem unfair to those individuals. Photographs and drawings are always appreciated, appropriate and easily shared as are letters, although translations can be an issue.

$25 is a small price to pay for bringing such happiness and encouragement to a child who has so little. If you wish to sponsor a child, please contact me and I can give you further details.

TWO BIRDS OF A FEATHER

With our in-home safety inspection completed a few weeks ago (finally), our Homestudy recommendation is being typed up by our Practitioner and will be completed by the beginning of August. With our parental ‘capabilities’ being poked and prodded
for months, approval has thankfully been granted on paper – phew, and I am feeling a great sense
of relief. That being said, we have some news…
TWO DRAGONFLIES!

Yes people, that means exactly what you’re thinking. We have decided that if we are going through the long wait and trouble, we might as well make ourselves an insta-family of four!

Nervous, but loving the idea, our folks are on board and have not yet enforced power of attorney, leaving us free of psychiatric treatment!

THE EGG HAS CRACKED

Summer has arrived and unleashed a new ‘to do’ list; landscaping and gardening has taken over and we are well on our way…beginning with the arrival of a rock via backhoe for our front pathway! The weekends have kept us busy pruning and planting but are now, allowing us to reap the rewards with colourful blooms and veggies that are soon to be edible.

Our AP was over at the house last night. We had our final Homestudy meeting and passed with flying colours – Phew! Now, all she has to do is write up the 14+ page essay (summarizing our entire lives from birth until now) and send it off to our agency so we can have our ‘Dossier’ paperwork translated and sent to Vietnam. We expect this to happen August but as we have learned, expect the unexpected.

"Faith is the bird that feels the light when the dawn is still dark."

SITTING DUCK

Last Friday afternoon, I received an email from our AP saying that both our Child Welfare checks had been run through the system and that there were no issues indicated. This was the last of the forms we were waiting on – so we are now officially paperwork free …for the time being. This was fantastic news and a great start to a beautiful sunny weekend.

I can’t believe it is March already…the crocuses are coming up, spring is on the way and we are 7 months, 3 weeks and 1 day into our journey. ..but who’s counting!

Feeling like a “sitting duck” all winter, I am now finding the time is thankfully moving faster, especially since the snow has melted and the clocks have sprung ahead. Finally, I feel some progression!

FLEE THE COOP

There is nothing better than a vacation when your in need of a mental relief. A good vacation, even if only for a few days helps me feel reconnected. I love operating as a vehicle for self-discovery and helping my hubby, D. and I get back to feeling our best. Bottom line - taking time away from the stresses of our daily life gives us the break we need so that we can return feeling refreshed and better equipped to handle whatever comes. And there is no better place to accomplish this than New York City!

D. and I felt the need to get away, so we planned a quick 5 day trip to spend Valentines in the Big Apple and visit my sister-in-law. Neither of us had
ever been there – we had a fantastic time and can’t wait to go back to see all that we missed.

The sound of the twenty-four seven hustle and bustle took some getting use to but was a welcomed change to our silent ‘norm’. I can still hear the constant honking battles performed between the never ending line of available taxi cabs. Even so, you can’t help but fall in love with this city. As you hit the main core, the aromatic smells from the street corner vendors tempt the senses and the architecture is grand and inspiring. The entertainment options are endless and the selection for dining is overwhelming and caters to any palette.

 We had great weather and took in as much site seeing as we could during our short stay. Here's a few pictures we took along the way; Central Park, The Flat Iron Building, Rockerfeller Centre and the Zoo.

FEATHER IN MY CAP

ADMISSION OF IMPERFECTIONS
I hate waiting! There, I said it! Waiting for my coffee to brew (especially when the clock is blinking 5:45am) is difficult enough for me but the amount of ‘waiting’ already incurred in this process is near killing me. It seems that all I have done in the past 6 months is wait! Waiting to here from agency, waiting to finish up all our required courses, waiting to file certain papers, waiting to get our Homestudy approval and now, hearing yesterdays news that non-priority adoption approvals from the ministry are currently taking up to 14 weeks to complete is more than a mood killer.

I’m not trying to sound juvenile. No one promised me anything different and certainly no one could have predicted the outer country disasters that have affected the ‘normal’ pace of international adoptions. Logically, I knew what I was getting into. I had been warned that the wait would not be easy but it is tough when uncontrollable circumstances keep adding to our timeframe.

Everyday, I am filled with wonder. Is she born yet? – Where is she located? - What does she look like? Does she dream about having mommy? Someday these questions will all be answered and in the end, it will be worth it!

If she is willing to wait for us to love her, I need to be willing to wait to hold her.

ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST

I have officially lost all sense of sensibility when it comes to designing our Dragonflies nursery. Consumed by thoughts of projects I wish to accomplish, the question remains…which to do first. It does seem, however, that I will have the time. The Haiti disaster (immediate and devastating) has unfortunately brought our current adoption stage to a shrieking halt. Our AP is overwhelmed with current adoptions for rescued Haitian children and the ministry has been delayed by the overflow of paperwork needed in order to process these children into forever families. This leaves our provincial ‘go ahead’ waiting in a limbo “priority file stack” and it could be months before our files are logged into the system. Falling shy of the cuckoo’s nest, admittedly, I’m frustrated. The idea of adding further delays (logical reasoning or not) aggravates me, but we are helpless to situation and must try to be understanding. This of course, is easier said
then done.

Keeping busy with nursery helps me cope and allows me to focus on something other than our lengthening timeline. I saw these images online and thought I would give them a try – try being the key word in this sentence.

Project #1: Fabric Stuffed Name

…AND YES, she has a name! I know I keep calling her ‘our little dragonfly’ but my husband and I have decided to keep it as a secret, at least for the time being.

Project #2: Mobile

In keeping with my “Birdies” theme, I thought I would attempt to make this fun mobile/art piece. I bought some cheap, yet fun material at Fabricland, printed out the free template I found and attempted bird number one last night. The instructions said to sew it on a machine, but I did mine by hand. It’s not perfect, but it’s ok for a first try. One bird down, 10 to go!

IT'S FOR THE BIRDS

OnShop Hunting.
My newly thought up term; defined of course by “looking online for stores with hidden little gems, but not buying”. Strangely, it leaves you feeling quite satisfied and… the bank account remains intact (sometimes). Obviously, the hunt itself is the best part. I love looking for “creativity at its best” type items. You know the ones, they make you feel warm and happy inside when you see them, liked Grandma-made wool mittens.

Here is my favourite little thing that I found on today’s prowl.

Bird Tee

Shirin Roubeni's line of simple nature-inspired pictures on organic cotton tops are edgy - but not too edgy. The leopards, butterflies, dragonflies hand created by Roubeni and hand screened by her haven't lost their nobility when brought down to little kid sizes, but the ruffles on this bird give it just enough to take it into the little girl realm. Here miniature couture is funky, fun, but definitely still couture. Find it here at: Shirin NYC

CHICKY NURSERY 101

Ah, the fun of planning a nursery bedroom for a child I have yet to meet or know the age of. Lately, I have been skimming the net and stores to see if I would find anything I really liked out there in the “commercially made” world of retail but alas, I dislike all that I’ve seen. Ok – so maybe the word “dislike” is a bit harsh, but none of them feel right. I know, I know – why be so picky? My response, why not? Why not indulge in this moment – there are so few times in life to do so and I really want it to be special. After viewing all of the available pre-themed styles, I have decided not to follow any of them. Big surprise eh! The creative designer within is just unable to surcome to buying “Winnie the Poo” or “Dora the Explorer”. I just can’t!

So, that being said, after much procrastination, I finally have it…a vision that is! I have selected my colours and made some purchases so there’s no going back now. Here it is - my attempt at a classically original, high end looking, low cost spending, colourful and funky sleeping quarter for our little dragonfly…simply titled, BIRDIES!

I want it to fell like we are walking through a garden; a warm sun, pretty flowers and lots of colourful birds in all corners! Here’s the concept:

What I got so far:

• The paint is a custom mixed in a soft light grey, purchased from BMR.

• The accent colours are a creamy white, various blues, a vibrant yellow and black.

• The wall decal was purchased from a store called DeSerres. This pattern is called ‘Birds on Wires’. It’s black in colour -like a silhouette, is non-toxic and easily removable. I’m going to place this horizontally along the bed wall.

• I’ve never been one for rocking chairs, so I picked up this cheap, neutral chair at Ikea. It’s called the ‘Ektorp Tullsta Armchair’ and comes with a light taupe washable slipcover with cream coloured piping. It’s small, but cozy.

• The little round blue rug is also from Ikea. It is very rich in colour and ties in nice with the Embroidery on the bedcover. This was a great “under $20” buy.

• I bought a white floating shelf which is leaning up against the far wall. I will be installing this but I want to wait until all my major furniture items are in the room (like a crib, if we need) so I can place it according to height, etc.

• Two cute little bird prints. Now I just have to find frames for them.

• My Nana, now passed, had given me a beautiful antique single bed about 6 years back or so. It is a beautiful piece that I have kept in storage until now. Since we have no idea what age our little one will be, I’m going to set the room up with a space for a crib and this bed.

• My crafty carpenter father had made me a lovely pine hope chest when I was younger. It is still in mint condition, and I have decided to recycle it, reusing it as a toy box at the end of the bed.

• I found some great yellow sofa material for sale at Ikea in the ‘as is’ section, so my plan is to buy some dense foam and cover it with a slipcover which will be placed on top of the toy box for comfy seating. I’m also going to make a cover for the body pillow at the head of bed and if I have leftovers, I’ll make some matching pillow shams.

• The plush giraffe on the chair and the little bunny on the bed is super soft and were purchased from a store that I can’t for the life of me remember the name of. It was one of those “had no purpose, but had to purchase” purchases. I know what your thinking – how does a giraffe fit into my ‘Garden of Birds’ theme. Well frankly, it doesn’t. There was absolutely no logic in buying this item and although it looks completely out of place, it was just too cute to resist! Here's what the room looks like so far:

What I want to do next:

• An antique looking crystal chandelier – similar to the picture shown to the left. I love how girly and regal it looks, and it will provide a nice soft glow throughout.

• Bedside Table

• Lamp

• Maybe a small bookcase, if there’s room

• More artwork for walls

CRACKING OPEN A NEW EGG

Happy 2010! Over the holidays, we formally announced our adoption plans to our extended family and friends through a  custom Christmas card I designed. Everyone really liked the design and idea so I thought I would include it.

I have been receiving a wonderful response to this blog and the support shown has been overwhelmingly amazing. Many people have sent messages requesting more detail into the process, and to post more pictures and information on VN, so I am going to try to do so to the best of my ability – which is limited as I am still trying to figure it all out.

THE ADOPTION PROCESS [information solely reflects
our agency]

CHILD AVAILABILITY
Both infant boys and girls are available, as are toddlers, sibling groups and special needs children. Parents may specify preferred sex but will be required to somewhat validate reasoning. To be adopted, the child must be under 15 years old and if over 9 years old, must give his/her own consent to the adoption. Boys and girls are generally available in equal numbers. For those that request infants, the babies tend to be about 3-4 months old at referral and approximately 5-6 months old when the parents travel to receive the child.

SIBLINGS & SPECIAL NEEDS
While there is a backlog of families waiting for single healthy infants, it is often difficult to find homes for siblings and those with special needs. As such, our agency will accept dossiers (translated mount of legal paperwork) of parents right away who are willing to adopt siblings or a special needs child. They are not subject to the usual wait list.

PARENTAL REQUIREMENTS
Any adult having reached the age of majority is eligible. Parents must be 20 years older than the child. Single females are eligible. Couples must be married more than 2 years. Unfortunately, same sex or common law marriages are not recognized by the country of Vietnam and therefore, are not eligible.

WHY CHILDREN ARE AVAILABLE
As mentioned in a previous post, VN does not approve of single parenthood, and poverty is extremely high.

FAMILY BACKGROUND
If birth family information is known it will be provided with the child's documentation. This is unavailable if child has been abandoned.

MEDICAL INFORMATION
Children are taken to an international medical clinic for examination and testing, as appropriate to the child's age. Information provided in referral typically includes general health status, length/height, weight, head circumference, and tests completed for all major diseases, including HIV/AIDS and hepatitis. Infants in VN are thankfully now immunized against hepatitis A, which is a tremendous reassurance.

INTER-COUNTRY TIME REQUIRED
One trip to Vietnam is mandatory. Legal guardianship of child is granted to adoptive parents in a VN court authorized building. It is called the “Giving and Receiving Ceremony”. Average length of stay is 2-3 weeks.

CITIZENSHIP
Upon entering Canada, the child will have Permanent Resident status. Canadian citizenship is not automatic and must be applied for by the parents. The child retains his/her Vietnamese citizenship.

POST ADOPTION REQUIREMENTS
Vietnam requires a legal commitment to submit two reports annually for the first three years, then one annual report until child reaches 18 years.


VIETNAM, THE COUNTRY

LAND & SEA
Although many North Americans still imagine Vietnam through the lens of war, it is in reality a country filled with captivating natural beauty and tranquil village life. Its highlands and rainforest regions, far from being devastated, continue to yield new species and team with exotic wildlife. Its islands and beaches are among the finest in all of Southeast Asia, and its cuisine is very possibly the most delicious you will ever find. Over two decades have passed since Vietnam was officially united, and in that time it has done a remarkable job of healing its wounds. Today, this gracious and graceful country is an outstanding travel destination. Shaped like an elongated S, Vietnam stretches the length of the Indochinese Peninsula and covers a surface area of 128,000 square miles--making it roughly the size of Italy. China lies to the north, Laos and Cambodia to the west, and the South China Sea to the east.

Topographically, Vietnam is a verdant tapestry of soaring mountains, fertile deltas, primeval forests inhabited by exotic fauna, sinuous rivers, mysterious caves, otherworldly rock formations, and heavenly waterfalls and beaches. Beyond nature, the curious and open-minded visitor will find in Vietnam a feast of culture and history.

POPULATION & PEOPLE
VN is a country with 76,000,000 residents, of which more than half are children under 15. It is organized into some 55 provinces, each directed by a People’s Committee, the supreme authority, and each with one or more state-run orphanages. Eighty percent of these are ethnic Vietnamese, while the remaining twenty percent comprises more than fifty separate ethnic groups. About seven million of these ethnic minorities are members of the hill tribes or montagnards (French for mountain people), making their homes and livelihoods in the spectacular mountains of the north and central highlands. Among the many languages spoken in VN are Vietnamese, Chinese, English and French. Although it is a country with an extremely high literacy rate, the average income is still about $30 US per day.

VN can be thought of as comprising three unique areas: north, central, and south.

The North is known for its alpine peaks, the Red River Delta, the plains of Cao Bang and Vinh Yen, enchanting Halong Bay which the Vietnamese consider a wonder of the world.

This tranquil, magical bay is filled with more than a thousand limestone islands, which rise from the water in dramatic rock formations and harbour extensive grottos and caves. There is also the beautiful and historic Hanoi – the capital of VN. It is the second largest city and retains its French colonial ambiance. It is dotted with lakes and lovely parks.

Central VN is home to many ethnic minorities. It is rich in volcanic soil and has spectacular beaches, dunes, and lagoons. It is also the location of the ancient imperial city of Hue.

In the South, visitors encounter modern life in Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) and the fertile alluvial delta of the Mekong River. HCMC is Vietnam's largest city. Inside this dense, teeming metropolis are countless links to the past, including a number of notable shrines and temples.

CULTURE
The richness of Vietnam's origins is evident throughout its culture. Spiritual life in Vietnam is a grand panoply of belief systems, including Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, Christianity, and Tam Giao (which is a blend of Taoism, popular Chinese beliefs, and ancient Vietnamese animism)

The most important festival of the year is Tet, a week-long event in late January or early February that brings in and celebrates the new lunar year and the advent of spring. Celebration consists of both raucous festivity (fireworks, drums, gongs) and quiet meditation.

STRUCTURAL ART
Vietnamese architecture expresses the natural balance and harmony that is evident in any of the country's vast numbers of historic temples and monasteries. The pre-eminent architectural form is the pagoda (a tower comprised of a series of stepped pyramidal structures) The pagoda form symbolizes the human desire to bridge the gap between the constraints of earthly existence and the perfection of heavenly forces. Pagodas are found in every province of VN.

NATIVE TONGUE
As a language, Vietnamese is exceptionally flexible and lyrical, and poetry plays a strong role in both literature and the performing arts. Folk art has experienced a resurgence in beautiful woodcuts, village painting, and block printing and Vietnamese lacquer art is another traditional medium and is of the most sophisticated in the world. Music, dance, and puppetry, including the uniquely Vietnamese water puppetry, are also mainstays of the
country's culture.

FOOD
Although rice is the foundation of the Vietnamese diet, the country's cuisine is anything but bland. Deeply influenced by the national cuisines of France, China, and Thailand, Vietnamese cooking is highly innovative and makes extensive use of fresh herbs, including lemon grass, basil, coriander, parsley, lime, and chili. Soup is served at almost every meal, and snacks include spring rolls and rice pancakes. The national condiment is nuoc mam (a piquant fermented fish sauce) served with every meal. Indigenous tropical fruits include bananas, pineapples, coconuts, lychees, melons, mandarin oranges, grapes, and exotic varieties like the three-seeded cherry and the green dragon fruit.