Hanoi students seek blessings before a testing time

By Tung Dinh June 11, 2021 | 06:16 am PT

Even with the places of worship closed, legions of Hanoi parents and students prayed for luck in the high school exams with folded hands.

On Friday morning, many Hanoi parents take their children to the Temple of Literature, hoping to have a dose of luck on the high school entrance exam on Saturday.

On Friday morning, many Hanoi parents took their children to the Temple of Literature to pray for luck in the high school entrance exam starting Saturday.

Due to the fresh Covid-19 outbreak, many tourist spots in the capital city have been shut down. But that cannot prevent Hanoian from praying for their luck.Van Mieu Quoc Tu Giam, or the Temple of Literature, is a well-known tourist destination in Hanoi, but in the days running up to important exams during summer, it is usually packed with students and parents.We left our house at 9 a.m., and went to the examination venue before arriving to the Temple of Literature, so my daughter can feel comfortable, said Lan Anh (R), residing in Long Bien District. She hoped that her daughter will have luck and do well in the coming exam.

While the latest Covid-19 outbreak has closed down many sacred spots in the capital city, Hanoians remained devout.
Van Mieu Quoc Tu Giam, or the Temple of Literature, is a well-known tourist destination in Hanoi, but in the days running up to important exams, it is usually overrun with students and parents.
"We left our house at 9 a.m., and went to the examination venue before arriving at the Temple of Literature, so my daughter can feel comfortable," said Lan Anh (R), a resident of Long Bien District. She hoped that her daughter will have luck and do well in the coming exam.

Duy Tung, student at Dong Da Secondary School, hopes to enter Khuong Dinh High School while bowing from the outside of the temple.

Duy Tung, a student of the Dong Da Secondary School, hopes to enter the Khuong Dinh High School.

At 9 a.m., But Tower and Ngoc Son Temple at Hoan Kiem Lake see a lot of people coming and pray for luck.

At 9 a.m., the But Tower and Ngoc Son Temple at Hoan Kiem Lake saw a lot of people sending their prayers from outside.

Minh Chau from Hoan Kiem Secondary School said: I have revised carefully but I still feel worried.

Minh Chau of the Hoan Kiem Secondary School said: "I have revised carefully, but I still feel worried."

The morning rain makes many people wear raincoats while praying.

The morning rain also did not deter people from offering their prayers.

The family does not pressure him, we only motivate him to be confident and comfortable, said Vu Thi Mai, praying with her son Pham Hoang Hai.

"The family does not pressurize him, we only motivate him to be confident and comfortable," said Vu Thi Mai, praying with her son Pham Hoang Hai.

Many parents and students use hand gestures to write their names and wishes onto stone steles.

Many parents and students wrote their names and wishes on statues of mythical creatures.

Many stand and pray from the outside of the temple. On May 12-13, 93,000 Hanoi students will join an entrance exam to compete for 67,000 seats in high schools across the capital city. Due to the pandemic, the exam has been delayed twice, from May 29-30 to June 10-11 and then June 12-13. Students will take the exam in two mornings, with reduced time.

Many parents and students pray from outside a pagoda.
On June 12-13, 93,000 Hanoi students were to sit for an entrance exam to compete for 67,000 seats in high schools across the capital city. Due to the pandemic, the exam has been delayed twice, from May 29-30 to June 10-11 and then June 12-13.