
As you embark on a fantastic Vietnam travel, the vibrant tapestry of Vietnamese food unfolds. Among various delightful dishes in the S-shaped country, stir-fried morning glory takes center stage with its crunchy texture and tropical flavor.
1. What makes stir-fried morning glory a culinary highlight in Vietnam?
Morning glory is a very typical Vietnamese vegetable, also known as swamp morning glory, water spinach, swamp spinach, or “rau muống” in Vietnamese. Aside from its versatile use in various dishes, morning glory has numerous health benefits. It has many essential vitamins (A, C, E, K, B6) and minerals (calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium), which play a crucial role in enhancing the immune system and fostering the well-being of bones and muscles.
Stir-fried morning glory is among the most beloved dishes made from this leafy green vegetable. Remarkably, it has earned its place among Vogue’s list of the top 29 must-try dishes in Vietnam. This dish is a simple combination of fresh morning glory, garlic, and an array of aromatic spices sizzling in a hot pan.
>>> Read more: Vietnamese vegetables: TOP exotic vegetables you must try while in Vietnam
2. The most popular Vietnamese stir-fried morning glory recipes
Morning glory offers versatility in cooking, allowing you to explore various methods while maintaining its delightful freshness. Consider these stir-fried morning glory recipes to add a diverse touch to your family meals.
2.1. Stir-fried morning glory with garlic (rau muong xao toi)
Stir-fried morning glory with garlic is the most delicious variation that often finds its place on the family dining table.
Ingredients:
- 500 grams of morning glory
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 1 tablespoon of oyster sauce
- 2 tablespoons of cooking oil
- Common seasonings: sugar, salt, seasoning powder, MSG
Instructions:
- Step 1: Prepare the ingredients
-
- Cut the morning glory into bite-sized pieces, removing the roots and damaged leaves.
- Wash the vegetables with salted water and rinse with clean water.
- Peel and crush the garlic.
- Step 2: Cook the dish
-
- Heat the cooking oil in a pan.
- Once the oil is hot, sauté the crushed garlic until fragrant.
- Add the morning glory, stir-fry on high heat, and add 0.5 cups of water. Continue stirring for about 5 minutes until the vegetables are cooked.
- Season with seasoning powder, sugar, MSG, and oyster sauce. Stir until the seasonings are well-distributed.
- Adjust the seasonings, then turn off the heat and serve.

Stir-fried morning glory with garlic is highlighted by the delightful aroma of garlic (Source: Collected)
2.2. Stir-fried morning glory with beef (rau muong xao thit bo)
Stir-fried morning glory with beef is one of the most beloved Vietnamese beef dishes.
Ingredients:
- 500 grams of morning glory
- 300 grams of beef
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 1 tablespoon of cooking oil
- Common seasonings: fish sauce, sugar, salt, seasoning powder, MSG
Instructions:
- Step 1: Prepare the ingredients
-
- Rinse the beef and cut them into thin slices.
- Wash and drain the morning glory, discarding damaged leaves, then cut them into small pieces.
- Step 2: Cook the dish
-
- Boil about 500ml of water in a pot.
- Add the morning glory, boil briefly, then transfer to a bowl of cold water for about 5 minutes.
- Remove the morning glory and let it drain.
- In a pan, heat 1 tablespoon of cooking oil. Add the beef, stir for about 2 minutes until it firms up, then reduce the heat.
- Season the beef with fish sauce, seasoning powder, MSG, sugar, and 4 tablespoons of water. Stir for 5 minutes until the seasonings are absorbed.
- Once the water is reduced, add the boiled morning glory. Stir for about 2 minutes for the vegetables to absorb the flavors.
- Adjust the seasonings to taste and turn off the heat.
2.3. Stir-fried morning glory with chicken giblets (rau muong xao long ga)
Check out the following recipe for a delightful plate of stir-fried morning glory paired with tender chicken giblets.
Ingredients:
- 500 grams of morning glory
- 300 grams of chicken giblets
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 1 tablespoon of cooking oil
- 1 teaspoon of oyster sauce
- Common seasonings: fish sauce, sugar, salt, pepper, seasoning powder, MSG
Instructions:
- Step 1: Prepare the ingredients
-
- Soak the chicken giblets in salt, squeeze thoroughly, wash, and drain.
- Cut the giblets into bite-sized pieces and mix with chopped garlic, fish sauce, seasoning powder, MSG, salt, and pepper. Let it marinate for about 20 minutes.
- Wash the morning glory, discarding damaged leaves, then cut them into small pieces.
- Step 2: Cook the dish
-
- Heat 1 tablespoon of cooking oil in a pan.
- Stir-fry the marinated giblets over high heat for 5 minutes until firm.
- Add the morning glory and oyster sauce. Stir-fry for an additional 5 minutes.
- Adjust the seasonings to taste and turn off the heat.
- Serve the dish and sprinkle it with ground pepper.
2.4. Stir-fried morning glory with instant noodles (rau muong xao mi tom)
Stir-fried morning glory with instant noodles is an easy-to-make dish. You can further customize it with proteins like shrimp, squid, snails, etc. according to your personal preferences.
Ingredients:
- 500 grams of morning glory
- 2 packs of instant noodles
- 2 cloves of garlic
- 2 tablespoons of cooking oil
- Common seasonings: fish sauce, sugar, salt, shrimp salt, MSG
Instructions:
- Step 1: Prepare the ingredients
-
- Wash the morning glory, discarding damaged leaves, then cut them into small pieces.
- Clean and chop the garlic.
- Boil water on medium heat, add the instant noodles, blanch for about 20 – 30 seconds, then drain the noodles.
- Step 2: Cook the dish
-
- Heat the cooking oil in a pan and sauté the minced garlic until fragrant.
- Add the morning glory then stir-fry for 3 minutes.
- Season with a mixture of fish sauce, sugar, MSG, and salt.
- Mix the mixture well, add the instant noodles, then stir until evenly coated.
- Adjust the seasonings to taste and turn off the heat.
>>> Explore: Vietnamese fried rice: More than a traditional plate of egg fried rice
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3. Pairing suggestions for stir-fried morning glory
The savory stir-fried morning glory, characterized by its tantalizing flavors, complements a range of other dishes. This dish is often enjoyed with rice, allowing the vegetables to enhance the simplicity of the rice. It can also be paired with various other savory dishes to create a balanced meal. Whether featured as a side dish or the star of the table, stir-fried morning glory will bring a touch of freshness and nutrition to your meal.
>>> Discover: Top 12 Vietnamese rice dishes to enjoy the quintessence of cuisine
4. Tips for your homemade Vietnamese stir-fried morning glory
How to choose fresh and delicious morning glory:
- Opt for morning glory bunches with slender, tall stems (approximately the size of a finger) and small leaves.
- Select bunches that have a vibrant green color and fresh leaves.
- Test the freshness by breaking a stem; if you see a milky liquid, the morning glory is still fresh.
- Avoid overly large, dark green, or excessively long morning glory bunches, as they may be old or treated with chemicals.
Tips for making crunchy and delicious stir-fried morning glory:
- Blanch the morning glory before stir-frying to maintain their crispness and vibrant green color.
- Add salt to the blanching water to ensure quick cooking.
- Do not cover the pot while blanching and stir-frying to prevent the vegetables from turning yellow or mushy.
- Refresh the blanched morning glory with cold water to prevent further cooking and reduce the intense green color.
- Stir-fry the morning glory over high heat for a crispy texture.

Stir-fried morning glory is done well if it retains its vibrant green color and crispy texture (Source: Collected)
>>> Read more: Vietnamese spinach (rau mong toi): an ingredient for nutritious dishes
Stir-fried morning glory not only serves as a homely dish on the dining table but also plays a significant role in the culinary heritage of Vietnam. On your visit to Vietnam, make sure you seize the chance to enjoy this delectable offering and immerse yourself in the richness of Vietnamese cuisine.
In addition to stir-fried morning glory, Vietnamese cuisine captivates tourists with a plethora of other unique dishes such as pho, banh mi, bun cha, com tam, etc. To fully savor these dishes at their best, you are highly recommended to come to Vietnam and explore renowned tourist destinations such as Hanoi, Hoi An, Nha Trang, Phu Quoc.
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