The Ultimate Guide to Vietnam’s 5k Vegetable Delight: A Global Sensation from Farm to Table, Fit for Presidents and K-pop Idols Alike

Water Morning Glory Stir-Fry: The Unassuming National Dish Taking the World by Storm

What was once a humble, everyday dish on Vietnamese tables, water morning glory stir-fry with garlic has now taken the world by storm, featuring in vlogs of international travelers to Vietnam. Recently, K-pop idol Seulgi of Red Velvet fame vacationed in Phu Quoc, where she savored this dish for both lunch and dinner over two days, singing its praises. This unassuming dish also made it to Korean television, receiving an enthusiastic thumbs-up from Korean beauty queen Oh Hyun Kyung.

It’s not just the rave reviews of regular tourists that have put this dish on the map, but also the fact that it was served to the President of France during his recent visit to Vietnam, specifically the “Ly Son Water Morning Glory Stir-Fry.” After indulging in this dish at a Vietnamese restaurant in the heart of the ancient town, the French President couldn’t help but applaud Vietnamese cuisine.

A simple TikTok search for “water morning glory stir-fry” yields hundreds of videos with numerous interactions. What’s most notable are the videos of foreigners indulging in this humble dish, with some even commenting, “Water morning glory stir-fry is a must-try when visiting Vietnam.”

A French tourist, Will Courageux, once shared in a social media video that he loved water morning glory so much that he couldn’t bear to leave Vietnam. Additionally, Korean singer Sung Si Kyung also raved about this dish during his trip to Vietnam.

Not only has this dish captivated international travelers, but it has also made it to the list of “The 100 Best Stir-Fried Dishes in the World” by Taste Atlas, ranking 17th with a score of 4.3/5. What’s even more impressive is that it’s one of five representatives of Vietnamese cuisine on this prestigious list, alongside stir-fried pho, glass noodle stir-fry with crab, stir-fried chayote with garlic, and stir-fried conch.

While water morning glory may be an everyday, affordable vegetable for Vietnamese people, sold in markets for just 5,000–10,000 VND per bunch, it’s considered a luxury vegetable in South Korea, priced at 60,000–70,000 VND for just 200 grams. This price difference explains why South Korean tourists often indulge in this dish when visiting Vietnam.

Why is Water Morning Glory Stir-Fry so Irresistibly Popular?

The sudden fame of this dish isn’t just about its delicious flavor; it’s the perfect harmony of nutrition, culture, and emotion. On the palate, water morning glory stir-fry delights with its crisp texture, balanced by the savory taste of fish sauce, the pungent aroma of fried garlic, and a mild spiciness from chili peppers, if added. It’s a symphony of flavors that embodies the essence of Vietnamese cuisine—unpretentious, distinct, and capable of captivating even the most discerning diners.

This dish also offers a slice of authentic Vietnamese life. Requiring no expensive ingredients or complicated cooking techniques, anyone can create a mouthwatering dish with just a few bunches of water morning glory, a few cloves of garlic, and some familiar seasonings. This simplicity is what makes water morning glory stir-fry so special—it’s not just a dish, but an embodiment of Vietnamese hospitality and our love for sharing our culture with the world.

Once again, Vietnamese cuisine proves that you don’t need fancy or flashy dishes to captivate the world. In an era where everything seems to be caught up in the “luxury” spiral, water morning glory stir-fry stands firm as a symbol of the enduring value of simplicity—something we can all be proud of and cherish.