Cold Foods Festival

Tet Han Thuc (Cold Foods Festival) is a traditional festival of Vietnamese which takes place on the 3rd day of the third lunar month in the year. This is occasion for family gathering and remember ancestor.

Tet Han Thuc (Cold Foods Festival) is a unique and meaningful tradition celebrated annually in Vietnam. Falling on the third day of the third lunar month, the festival holds deep cultural and spiritual significance, rooted in both Vietnamese and Chinese heritage. While it is not a public holiday, it remains an important occasion for many Vietnamese families, especially in the northern regions of the country.

Origins of Tết Hàn Thực: A Blend of Cultures and Interpretations

The origins of Tết Hàn Thực in Vietnam have long been a subject of discussion among historians and cultural researchers. While the festival bears the influence of ancient Chinese traditions, particularly the legend of Jie Zhitui, many scholars argue that its celebration in Vietnam has evolved independently and has roots in indigenous Vietnamese customs as well.

Chinese Influence: The Legend of Jie Zhitui

One widely accepted theory connects Tết Hàn Thực to the Chinese Cold Food Festival, which honors Jie Zhitui, a loyal servant of Prince Chong'er (later Duke Wen of Jin) during the Spring and Autumn period. After Jie’s selfless acts and tragic death in a fire set by the prince’s men, a festival was created in his memory during which people refrained from using fire and ate only cold food. This story became ingrained in Chinese culture, and as Chinese influence spread to neighboring regions, including Vietnam, elements of the Cold Food Festival were introduced and localized.

Vietnamese Interpretation: March Festival of the Việt People

However, some Vietnamese researchers believe that Tết Hàn Thực may have developed independently from Chinese traditions, originating from an indigenous March festival (Tết tháng Ba) marking the seasonal shift from spring to early summer. In this interpretation, the offering of bánh trôi and bánh chay is tied to ancestral worship and agricultural cycles. Unlike in China, Vietnamese people continue to cook during the festival, focusing instead on honoring ancestors. The celebration reflects a localized adaptation, emphasizing seasonal renewal and familial devotion.

Unique Vietnamese Traditions

In Vietnam, Tết Hàn Thực is not associated with the strict prohibition of fire as in the Chinese tradition. Instead, it focuses on ancestral remembrance and culinary symbolism.

The hallmark of the festival in Vietnam is the preparation and offering of “bánh trôi” and “bánh chay”:

Bánh trôi are small, round rice balls with a sweet molasses or brown sugar filling, symbolizing floating stars or the purity of ancestral spirits.
Bánh chay are slightly larger, filled with mung bean paste, and served in a lightly sweet soup.

These desserts are made from glutinous rice flour and are both simple and elegant, reflecting the modest, respectful spirit of the festival.

Families gather to make these traditional cakes together and then offer them on their ancestral altars, praying for peace, health, and prosperity. It is a moment of reunion, reflection, and connection between the living and their forebears.

Contemporary Significance

Today, Tết Hàn Thực remains a cherished day, especially in the north of Vietnam. While younger generations may not always be aware of the festival’s ancient roots, the practice of making bánh trôi and bánh chay continues as a valuable cultural ritual. Many schools and communities also use the day as an opportunity to teach children about traditional values, respect for ancestors, and Vietnamese culinary arts.

In urban areas, families may opt to buy ready-made bánh trôi and bánh chay from local markets or bakeries, yet the spirit of the day remains intact: honoring the past, savoring tradition, and preserving cultural identity.

Tết Hàn Thực is a quiet, graceful reminder of Vietnam’s respect for family, history, and tradition. In an ever-modernizing world, such festivals help preserve the cultural fabric that binds generations together, offering a taste of the past while nurturing present-day bonds.

Fancy local festivals? For more information about Tết Hàn Thực or other traditional celebrations in Vietnam, feel free to contact our Vietnam Tour Experts for personalized insights and recommendations.