A pagoda in Hanoi has become busy since the beginning of this week as young people from around Vietnam visit it to offer Valentine’s Day prayers in the hope of finding their better half.

The Ha Pagoda in Cau Giay District, Hanoi is known for granting people’s romance-related wishes.

The Buddhist temple has got especially busy these days when the youth flock to visit the pagoda, bringing with them offerings, and pray for a better love life.

Valentine's Day, also called Saint Valentine's Day, is celebrated annually on February 14 and recognized as a celebration of romance and romantic love in many regions around the world, including Vietnam, despite it being not a public holiday in the country.

“I’m ‘notorious’ for being unlucky in love, so I visit this place in the hope that my romance path will see some improvement,” said Tran Le Truc Ly, 23, who had traveled nearly 150 kilometers from Thanh Hoa Province with her friends to pray at the Ha Pagoda.

Visitors make offerings at the Ha Pagoda in Hanoi. Photo: Ha Thanh / Tuoi Tre

Geographical distance did not stop Tran Trinh Thuc Doan, 24, from flying all the way from Ho Chi Minh City to Hanoi to pay a visit to the famous pagoda on the Valentine’s Day occasion.

Like her peers, Doan said her only wish when visiting the pagoda is to have better luck in love.

“I hope my prayers will be answered so I can soon have a lover with whom to visit this pagoda once again,” Doan said.

Two 17-year-old boys, Nguyen Hoang Duong and Hoang Duc Hinh, could be spotted having fun posing for photos outside the pagoda with a bouquet of roses.

Both attending a high school in Hanoi, Duong and Hinh said they have decided to visit the Ha Pagoda after learning of a saying that goes “one never leaves the pagoda single."

“Since we don’t have a female friend with us, we decided to form a pair of our own for the photos,” Duong said.

“My wish for this Valentine’s Day is to be given some chocolate [by someone].”

Two boys pose for a funny photo outside the Ha Pagoda in Hanoi. Photo: Ha Thanh / Tuoi Tre

Two boys pose for a funny photo outside the Ha Pagoda in Hanoi. Photo: Ha Thanh / Tuoi Tre

Visitors make offerings at the Ha Pagoda in Hanoi. Photo: Ha Thanh / Tuoi Tre

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