VIETNAM TIES
December 27, 2009 - January 8, 2010
Watch Vietnam Ties come to life on video!!! IMPORTANT: Once you get to the video, click on the HQ button in the lower right corner to view in High Quality. Turn your volume on! Enjoy! It's AWESOME!!!
To pre-register for future years, click here for pre-registration to hold your spot! 
Highlights:
Vietnam has touched your family in a very special way. Adoptive parents have vivid memories of being in Hanoi or Saigon to bring home their son or daughter. Vietnam Ties is an opportunity for you to reconnect with those special places, and share them first hand with your children. All the stories your child has heard about seem to come alive as you walk down a familiar street or revisit a hotel you once stayed in. 
Many families remember people too, such as a translator, or a caretaker important to their child. We will make every effort possible to see that you reconnect with those special people. Reminiscing is an important part of the journey, and points of connection establish a concrete setting for your child of when you became a family. Further, it is a chance for all of you to learn more about the fabulous Vietnamese people and culture together.
Our journey begins in Hanoi. With its old buildings, trees, and lakes, Hanoi has a charm most Asian cities have long since lost. In addition to sightseeing, we will also visit a school, Tu Liem Orphanage, and spend time with Mrs. Thuy from the former Claudia Hotel. We can add in other orphanages as they pertain to the families traveling.
 From Hanoi, we will travel to the spectacular Halong Bay where we will overnight on a houseboat. It is delightful and the scenery is magnificent. You’ll even have a chance to try kayaking if you’d like!
Leaving Hanoi, we fly to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) where we will visit Tam Binh Orphanage. Our travels also take us to the Mekong Delta, where river life is fascinating and people are very gentle. During our time in the Delta, we will visit the colorful floating market, and as part of a local humanitarian project, we will donate a sampan to a local farmer. Throughout our journey we offer optional "Connect & Chat" for the kids and “Talk Times" for the adults to help process the amazing experiences we have in Vietnam. Ties Programs travel with a social worker or adoption professional to facilitate optional discussion groups for adults and kids.
We staff all of our programs with an adoption professional/discussion facilitator…something we see as critical to your time in Vietnam if it is to be the identity building experience for your child, and the bonding experience you want it to be for your family.
Traveling as a family to your child’s country of birth is a life changing experience. It fosters understanding, nurtures pride and creates family memories that last a lifetime.
READ WHAT FAMILIES HAVE TO SAY
“Awesome, supportive experience.” Leslie Anixter
“I’m really special to be from Vietnam.” Sophie Wydman, 8
“Bringing adoptive children ‘home’ to their country of origin is an important gift of a lifetime.”
Connie Lewis
“Big thanks for the thoughtfulness that went into planning and especially to the consideration of the needs of the children.” Susan Sher
“I came to understand the importance of visiting Vietnam for our daughter’s self image.” Richard Flood
“I liked that we could pick and choose what we wanted to be part of.”
Roz Cantrell
“I loved how we got to go with a group.” Cami Coppage, age 10
“I love this country. People were warm, welcoming and genuine.”
Cindy Gallaher
“Pre-trip counseling and advice was invaluable.” Liz Hemphill
Re: Connect & Chat for kids: "We actually talked and share our thoughts.” Josie Kelsay, 15
“We really appreciate the effort involved in finding Emily’s birth family and arranging the visit.” Tim Hack
Sitting with his dad, Nathan Hack, 7, worked very hard at filling out his end-of-trip evaluation. He gave us a 100 percent score!!! (We gave him 100% too!)
For more information, contact The Ties Program or Request an Informational Packet.
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