The purpose of the Asian American Health Needs Assessment (AsANA) project was to collect information on the health risks, behaviors, and beliefs among Chinese and Vietnamese residents in the Houston area, two of the largest Asian American subgroups in Texas. The first phase of the project was to develop the AsANA survey instrument, which was adapted from the Texas Community Health Survey, a condensed version of the Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance System. This report describes the steps used in adapting, modifying and developing the survey instrument, and provides insights, which may assist other investigators conducting similar research.