The Government has agreed a bilateral adoption agreement between Ireland and Vietnam.
Vietnam has recently become a popular choice of country for Irish couples wishing to adopt. Since 1999, 104 children have beet adopted.
Vietnam suspended all adoptions to countries that did not have a bilateral agreement in place as from January 2003.
Negotiations took place in Hanoi in March and April of this year and officials from the Department of Health and Children and the Adoption Board met with officials from the Vietnamese Ministry for Justice.
The Vietnamese Minister for Justice Dr Uong Chu Luu also met with the Irish delegation.
The Minister for Children, Mr Lenihan, welcoming the agreement, said he was pleased that a common understanding had been reached and that agreement has been reached between our two countries."