In each of the To Asia With Love guidebooks, there are a variety of chapters. Some are unique to each book, such as Meeting People in the Myanmar volume, or Festivals in the Japan volume. Others are standard, including dining, shopping, sightseeing, and my personal favorite: Paying it Forward. This chapter focuses solely on how travelers can make a difference in the countries they visit. While there are some opportunities to donate money, the emphasis is on interaction with and participation in charity groups around each country.

In To Vietnam With Love, one such essay focuses on the Blue Dragon Children’s Foundation. In the foundation’s own words: “Our mission is to provide opportunities and tools that empower the most disadvantaged children and their families to break out of poverty, forever.”

This year, rather than asking for donations, which it can always use, the foundation is selling notecards painted by a sixteen-year-old girl at Blue Dragon who hopes to become an artist. Because we love helping all the wonderful organizations written about in our books, we’re excited to share these notecards with you. Just go to Blue Dragon to order yours in time for the holiday season.

To discover more wonderful charity organizations in Vietnam, order your own copy of To Vietnam With Love. And keep an eye out for volumes on Myanmar and Japan coming in the spring of 2009.