The relevant ministries and local authorities will tighten administrative procedures regarding marriages between locals and foreigners as well as other family matters such as adoption.

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem has asked the Ministry of Justice to draft a document governing foreigners’ adoption of Vietnamese children and submit it to the government in the first quarter of 2009, according to the Government Office.

He also requested the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to steer Vietnam’s representative agencies abroad to take appropriate measures to protect the rights of Vietnamese nationals in all family matters, including marriage under the host countries’ laws and international treaties to which Vietnam is a signatory.

Relevant agencies have also been required to devise a plan to offer consultation services regarding international marriages in Ho Chi Minh City, and submit the details of the plan to the Prime Minister before this year’s second quarter ends.

The people’s committees of the cities and provinces are to gather information on Vietnamese women who are married to foreigners and live abroad, and to publicize this information to help ensure healthy international marriages.

The Deputy PM also suggested the Vietnam Women’s Union expand its cooperation with legal organizations involved in international marriages in other countries.

Source: VOV