An American mother’s search for help caring for her twin daughters became the starting point for Rooted Danang, a childcare service that says it has trained more than 100 Vietnamese women since launching in 2018.
Serving residents and visiting families in Da Nang and Hoi An, the organization connects parents with caregivers for everything from an evening of babysitting to full-time nanny arrangements. Behind that service is a training program designed to help Vietnamese women build childcare careers while navigating the expectations of families from different cultures.
In written responses to Da Nang Voice, the Rooted team said the idea grew from co-founder Merry’s experience hiring Vietnamese nannies for her twins. Differences in parenting practices, childcare approaches, and expectations highlighted an opportunity to better prepare caregivers and families to work together.
Merry and two fellow American founders developed a program combining practical childcare skills with communication training and an understanding of cultural differences.
“Their vision was not simply to connect families with babysitters, but to develop well-trained, responsible, and culturally aware professional nannies,” the team said.
Today, manager Trang Jennifer helps connect Vietnamese caregivers with families. According to Rooted, she brings seven years of nanny experience to the role and communicates with parents and caregivers in both English and Vietnamese.
Rooted serves children from birth through age 12. Its services include full-time and part-time nanny care, hourly babysitting, overnight care, and weekend and holiday bookings. Families visiting Da Nang and Hoi An can also arrange childcare during their stays.
Before introducing a caregiver to a family, Rooted says it reviews the applicant’s background, childcare experience, and references, then assesses practical skills, knowledge, and attitude. Training and assessment generally take about two months.
The program covers child development, age-appropriate activities, communication with children, professional responsibilities, and differences in parenting approaches. Caregivers also receive guidance on respecting children’s privacy and independence.
Rooted says all its nannies receive CPR training and hold CPR certificates, with reassessment and practical testing required for renewal every three years.
Matching begins with a conversation about the family’s schedule, the children’s ages, language preferences, and any qualifications or experience parents want in a caregiver. Parents can interview candidates in person or arrange video calls before arriving in Vietnam.
For ongoing arrangements, a trial period typically lasts about a week, giving the family and nanny time to determine whether the match works.
Parents are also asked to share details about their children’s routines, food allergies, health conditions, medication instructions, and emergency contacts before care begins.
Rooted says its coordination team remains involved after placement, collecting feedback and helping address concerns. That may include additional guidance for a nanny or arranging a replacement.
“At Rooted, our responsibility does not end when we introduce a nanny to a family,” the team said.
Beyond childcare bookings, Rooted offers pregnancy and postpartum support, fitness activities for mothers, and a lending library for registered Rooted families. The library contains more than 500 book titles, along with puzzles and educational resources for children.
Those services reflect the organization’s broader ambition to create a support network for parents while expanding employment opportunities for local women.
“We want to create more opportunities for Vietnamese women, especially those who love working with children and wish to build a career in childcare and early childhood development,” the team said.
According to Rooted, nanny rates generally range from VND 120,000 to VND 200,000 per hour, depending on the number of children, schedule, caregiver experience, and other requirements. Bookings have a three-hour minimum.
Families are encouraged to book ahead and provide at least 24 hours’ notice when changing a confirmed booking. Payments are handled through Rooted by bank transfer or PayPal.
For inquiries, families can contact Rooted Danang on Facebook or reach Trang Jennifer on WhatsApp at +84 973 441 509.
Sources
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