Hanoians visit pagodas on Lunar New Year’s Eve

When the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve, many people begin their pilgrimage to nearby pagodas in order to pray for health and luck for both themselves and their loved ones.

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Many citizens sincerely believe that all of their wishes made on New Year’s Eve will come true.

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This year has seen the number of pilgrims drop compared to previous years as a result of the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 outbreak.

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The Quan Su Pagoda located in downtown Hanoi witnesses a decline in the number of worshippers.

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Once inside the pagoda, everyone wears a face mask and tries to maintain social distancing as recommended by authorities.

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Local people keep their face masks on while praying for good fortune over the coming year.

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Vietnamese people believe that the act of going to a pagoda is not just about praying for good things in the coming year, but also serves to reflect on what they have done in the past and leave all hardship behind.