When Vietnam was still doing adoptions, they required that we adopt the child in person in the child’s province. Brian was born in Vinh Phu Province, so we needed to make the several hour trip there to do so.

We ended up being a little rushed on Friday morning, July 28th. The driver was very early and insistent that we needed to get to the airport to pick up others coming in from the States. We quickly through together some clothes and things and left. We didn’t give up our room at the hotel, so we didn’t have to drag all four suitcases and two carry-ons with us (this was in the days before you had to pay for your bags!).

While the director of the agency went to locate the two other families coming in and to give them their babies, the interpreter got some lunch for us in the airport cafeteria. We were so thankful for him because he made sure we didn’t end up with dog or cat 😉 Instead, we got plates piled high with ramen noodles and sliced chicken. Just one problem – only chopsticks. O.K. We tried, we really did. But between holding a squirming baby and maneuvering long noodles on chopsticks – ain’t happening. We did provide quite a bit of amusement for the natives, though. They couldn’t stop laughing at us. We probably did look pretty funny. Finally, someone took pity on us and we were given spoons. While I would have preferred a fork and knife, spoons it was. We did get some into ourselves at any rate.

Then I had another adventure in the airport – the restroom. Someone directed me to where it was located and I went in. Imagine my surprise to see that this bathroom was designed for either sex. Oh, my. I hurried as much as I could and prayed the entire time I was in there that no men would come to use the facilities. They didn’t, PTL! I think Doug used the stalls when he went!

The ride between Hanoi and Viet Tri, the capital of Vinh Phu Province, took a few hours, not because the distance was so far, but because the roads were so terrible. We were jostled and bounced the entire way. Brian slept. The motion must have lulled him. But the countryside was worth the trip. It is so beautiful with the mountains in the distance and rice paddies all around. We passed several small towns and crossroads with more houses. The people there are so very poor. It made me sad to see the living conditions they endure. Vinh Phu Province is the poorest in all of Vietnam. Even the children were busy working in the fields or herding the water buffalo.

Because of their worship of their ancestors, they bury them right in the fields where they work. We passed many of these cemeteries.

At last we arrived at our resort – yes, I said resort, just as we were getting up in the mountains. You all know how happy I was that we didn’t have to go any higher! The place was lovely. The Swedes built it and the nearby factory, then turned it over to the Vietnamese. It’s used as a weekend getaway by those in the city.

We had our own wonderful little 2 bedroom apartment with a large living area, a kitchen complete with a washer and dryer (too bad I left my laundry in Hanoi), and a European style bathroom.

Our meals were served family style in the dining hall. The food was excellent. We ate a lot of freshly baked French bread and Ramen noodles.

The paths around the resort were covered with moss as we were in what I’d term a tropical rain forest. It rained every day. Poured, in fact. But because of that, it was lush and green.

We also enjoyed a pool and there were tennis courts, too.

As we lay in bed that night, we listened to the crickets chirping. No honking cars. Ahhh. I had such a feeling of complete and utter peace and joy.