A Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) report shows Vietnam has more than 400,000 children who are provided with social allowances and are being brought up within the community.

About 170,000 children are taken care of by adoptive families, and 22,000 others are being cared at support centres.

Over the years Vietnam has introduced a number of legal documents and policies to better child care and protection, especially for vulnerable children in society.

MoLISA deputy minister Doan Mau Diep said Vietnamese and international experiences have shown that adoptive families are the best models and in the child’s best interests.

When living in a nurturing family environment, children have a better opportunity to develop both materially and spiritually, he stressed, adding that bringing up these children in support centres is considered as the last resort.

However, this model has revealed weaknesses, including a lack of sufficiently clear regulations and laws on child adoption.

During the two-day meeting, delegates examine child adoption models in a number of countries such as China and Canada, and learn about United Nations instructions on child adoption and care.

They also discuss the application of a proper model in Vietnam and give opinions to perfect a legal framework on the issue.