Aside from good health and good luck for themselves and their families, they also pray for meeting the right person.
Before coming here, people often carefully prepare their offerings. A tray of offerings costs around VND90,000-120,000 ($3.8-5). A standard tray has red roses, fruit, betel and areca, salt, water and joss paper.
They write their name, age, address and their wish on a yellow piece of paper, and then put it on the offering tray.
Bui Thi Khanh Ly, a student at the Vietnam Academy of Agriculture, and three friends travela long way from Gia Lam District to the Ha Pagoda. The group pray for love. In addition to the standard offerings, the group also bring home-made sticky rice and spring rolls.
Dinh Thi Phuong Lien, 19, tries to memorize her prayer. She said: “I have never been in a relationship. My standards are high, as I want a boyfriend who is tall, handsome, kind and from a rich family.”
Nguyen Thi Trang, 22, comes from Hai Phong City. She said: “I hope that after I go back home I will have my first romantic relationship.”
Pham Hoang Thang from Nam Tu Liem District said: “I have been in a few relationships but they didn’t work out. I want to find someone that I can share everything in life with and get married. I also pray for good health and a career.”
Nguyen Huong Giang (second from the left) said this is her second time here. She wished for good health and a comfortable love life.
“I came here last year near Valentine’s Day and got a lover, but it didn’t work out,” Giang said.
