A Nostalgic Era of Rustic Vegetables in the Mekong Delta

The vegetables of the Mekong Delta are always treasured as a heavenly gift bestowed upon the locals. These humble, rustic greens leave a lasting impression on diners from a bygone era.

Reminiscing a Time of Traditional Vegetables in the Mekong Delta

Duckweed

When mentioning vegetables from the Mekong Delta, one cannot overlook the charm of duckweed. This is a type of water spinach belonging to the convolvulus family, also known as 'water morning glory.' It features dark green leaves adorned with white flowers, growing wild along fields, ponds, roadsides, and damp areas.

Rau trai

Rau trai, also known as 'common vegetable,' is a familiar green in the Western region. It is part of the La Thái family, characterized by its leaning stems and spearhead or lanceolate-shaped leaves. The base doesn't curl, featuring a broad stem of 1-2cm and a length of about 2-10cm.

Rau trai has a slightly cool nature, a mild sweet taste, and offers anti-inflammatory, heat-relieving, swelling-reducing, and diuretic effects. The entire plant is commonly used for medicinal purposes, whether dried or fresh, to treat throat inflammation, respiratory infections, urinary tract infections, and more.

Rau trai is often transformed into various family dishes, such as sautéed rau trai with garlic, boiled rau trai with soy sauce, and rau trai soup. Each dish brings a different flavor but generally provides a delicious and detoxifying meal that is beneficial for health.

Water spinach

Water spinach is a common vegetable found in almost every market in the Mekong Delta. It is also prevalent in the homes of the locals, especially around water bodies. According to scientific research, water spinach contains minerals and vitamins beneficial for health. It is transformed into delicious dishes in the Mekong Delta, such as sweet and sour pickled water spinach, stir-fried water spinach, sour soup with water spinach, or even enjoyed raw, which is equally delightful.

Ngo

This is a widely cultivated vegetable in the Mekong Delta, thriving in water, with slender stems that flourish thanks to river silt without the need for soil. Often seen growing along the edges of fields, dikes, ponds, etc. Despite minimal care or fertilization, the vegetable displays rapid growth and adapts well to its natural habitat.

Water mimosa

Water mimosa is quite delicious and beloved by many. It's a simple, rustic green that typically emerges during the rainy season due to its affinity for moist environments.

Water mimosa is rich in nutrients, acting as a blood thinner, detoxifier, anti-inflammatory, heat-clearing, and blood circulation enhancer. It is commonly used to treat ailments such as sore throats, appendicitis, and joint pain.

Notably, water mimosa is used to create delicious salads. Its slightly tangy taste blends perfectly with sweet and sour fish sauce, delivering a unique and tantalizing flavor. Beyond salads, the vegetable is transformed into various delightful dishes such as crab soup with water mimosa or stir-fried water mimosa.

Water chestnut leaves

In the rural regions of the Mekong Delta, water chestnut is considered a wild-growing vegetable. Locals harvest it to prepare wholesome and healthy dishes such as shrimp soup and boiled dishes. The vegetable has a mild and pleasant taste with a subtle aroma. Additionally, it can be used to make a decoction to aid in weight loss, relaxation, and treat skin inflammation, dysentery, nerve weakness, though it might not be favored by those averse to bitterness.

River morning glory

Similar to water spinach, river morning glory is a highly sought-after vegetable in the Mekong Delta. A rustic vegetable with a sweet and refreshing taste that is easily incorporated into various dishes such as stir-fried river morning glory with garlic, boiled river morning glory, and river morning glory dishes served with fermented fish sauce.

Bitter greens

The bitter taste of bitter greens leaves a lasting impression on those who indulge in its unique flavor. This hardy and easily cultivated vegetable can be found in fields of potatoes, corn, cassava, sugar cane, roadsides, or riverbanks.

Sky vegetable

Heavenly mustard greens often grow wild along field edges, vacant lots, and gardens. The leaves and branches have slightly sticky hairs, a fragrant aroma, serrated edges, and grow alternately. Mustard greens are considered a precious herb in traditional medicine, widely used in daily meals, and are highly effective in treating various ailments.

As per Mytour

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Reference: Travel guide by Mytour