Following a rain on Thursday at noon, dozens of students and teachers swarmed the Temple of Literature to give offerings to the ancestors and pray for luck before taking their high school entrance tests this weekend.
The examinations, from Saturday to Sunday this week, include three subjects: Math, Literature and Foreign Language.
Students who wish to enter specialized schools and pursue double degrees must take additional exams on Monday and Tuesday next week.
Among the 106,000 candidates who signed up for the exams, 81,000 of them aim to enroll in public schools.
The high school entrance exam is held independently among localities. HCMC students take it on Thursday and Friday.
Candidates give offerings to the ancestors in the form of notebooks, pens, green bean cakes, and other items.
Vu Phuong Linh (3rd, L), an English teacher, prays for her students’ exam luck at the temple.
"I hope the students are confident, lucky and utilize everything they've learned to pass the exams," Linh said.
Ten bronze turtle models and other study tools were given as offerings at the Temple of Literature by teachers from Co Loa Middle School.
Following a ceremony, each one of the turtles was presented to the top student in each of the institution’s 10 classes participating in the exams.
An altar at the temple surrounded by people.
Before every exam, several students and teachers regularly visit the temple, Vietnam's first university which worships the country's legendary scholars, to pray for luck.
Several people brought paper and pens to print the names of candidates and pray for their blessings.
Thai Son, from Dong Anh Secondary School, writes down his hopes on a piece of paper before hanging it at the temple for the luck.
(From L) Trang Nguyen, Huyen Trang, Thanh Thu and Bui Thu, all students from Co Loa Secondary School, hold up auspicious calligraphies for display at the Temple of Literature. They hope the scrolls will bring them luck during their exams.
The Temple of Literature-Imperial Academy of Vietnam is a national-grade historical site. The Temple was built 1070, and the Academy, Vietnam's first university, was built in 1076.
