The Cold Food Festival is known as the Hanshi Festival in China, the Hansik Festival in Korea, and the Tet Han Thuc Festival in Vietnam.

Traditionally, Chinese people did not cook during the Hanshi Festival. They only ate cold food to remember a nobleman named Jie Zhitui who lived in the 7^th century BC. Jie was a faithful follower of Prince Chong'er of the State of Jin. Jie supported the prince even when he was in a difficult time. Years later, Prince Chong’er took power and became Duke Wen of Jin. He wanted to thank Jie and invite him back to court. However, Jie preferred to remain in seclusion. Despite the threat of a fire to force him out of hiding to meet Duke Wen, he refused to budge. In the end, Jie and his mother were burnt alive in the mountain where they lived. Duke Wen felt very sorry to know that Jie was dead. He designated the day as the Hanshi Festival and ordered a ban on the use of fire on that day. The Hanshi Festival was the day before the Ching Ming Festival. As time went by, the two festivals gradually became one festival. Nowadays, people in some places still eat cold food during the Ching Ming Festival.

"Hansik" is a Korean word which means "cold food". The Hansik Festival is celebrated on the 105^th day after the winter solstice and usually falls on 5 April. Although the literal meaning of "Hansik" is "cold food", the custom of eating cold food has disappeared. On the day of the festival, Korean people honour their ancestors by visiting and cleaning tombs. The Hansik Festival also marks the start of the farming season. Therefore, it is the most suitable time for planting trees.

The Tet Han Thuc Festival is celebrated in Vietnam. People there observe a different custom, though the festival originated from the Cold Food Festival. It is held on the third day of the third lunar month. The restriction of using fire to cook has disappeared. Vietnamese people from across the country try to return home to visit their ancestors’ graves and pay respect to their ancestors. At home, they make glutinous rice balls and put them on the altar to worship their ancestors and wish for a safe and happy year to come.