On the eve of Hanoi’s high school entrance exam, numerous students accompanied by families and friends visited the Temple of Literature - Quoc Tu Giam to pray for good fortune and success.
In the afternoon of June 6, one day before the 10th-grade entrance exam began, many students and their parents gathered at Vietnam’s first national university, the Temple of Literature in Hanoi, to make offerings and seek blessings.
Over the past few days, the historic site has welcomed hundreds of students. Despite the scorching weather, the area remained crowded.Most of the students seen at the site, clad in traditional white school uniforms, were ninth graders preparing for one of the most important exams in their academic journey.Items they planned to bring into the exam room, such as calculators, pens, pencils, compasses, rulers, and sharpeners, were brought along for blessing, in hopes of divine favor during the test.Carrying over ten kilograms of offerings, Vu Thien Nhan from Quynh Mai Secondary School said he would present incense to Confucius and Chu Van An, the headmaster of the Imperial Academy, praying for a smooth academic path. “I hope to get into Viet Duc High School,” Nhan shared.Students wrote their own prayer sheets before entering the main hall to express their sincerity. Traveling more than ten kilometers from Dong Anh District, Duc Cuong explained that despite the availability of written prayer services, he preferred to write his own to show true devotion.Some offerings even included examination documents. From right to left, three sisters - Doan Cam Linh, Doan Mai Linh, and Doan Phuong Linh - were all preparing for upcoming exams. Cam Linh was preparing for university entrance, while Mai Linh would sit for the 10th-grade exam the next day.Inside the Dai Thanh sanctuary, many students and parents respectfully burned incense, spending several minutes in deep prayer.The incense offering ritual at the Temple of Literature holds deep significance for generations of Vietnamese. It honors the spirit of “gratitude to one's roots” and upholds the national tradition of reverence for teachers and learning.After finishing her offering and smiling alongside her mother, Le Phuong Nhi from Doan Thi Diem Secondary School shared that she felt calm and confident ahead of the exam.The area reserved for wishes was filled with heartfelt messages and hopes from students, marking their aspirations before the academic “dragon gate leap.”
Vietnamnet.vn
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