Will Courageux: A Love for Vietnamese Cuisine

Will Courageux, a 32-year-old content creator from France, has spent nearly a decade working in Vietnam and has amassed a following of over 1.2 million on his YouTube channel.

The dish that has captured Will’s heart is ‘rau muong xao toi’—a dish of stir-fried morning glory with garlic, which he claims he “can’t leave Vietnam” without enjoying.

Recently, while visiting a popular beer restaurant in Hanoi with a friend, he eagerly dug into the dish when it arrived, his delight evident though he remained silent.

Will highlighted that rau muong xao toi is among the most favored dishes in numerous Vietnamese eateries and beer halls.

He first tasted this dish during his initial trip to Vietnam eight years ago and fondly remembers its crispy morning glory paired with fragrant garlic, which left him wanting more.

Since that time, it has become a staple for him, and he orders it multiple times a week.

Will also recommends rau muong xao toi to his family and friends who come to visit, and they all agree on its deliciousness.

This charm of the dish transcends borders, as many foreign visitors to Vietnam also rave about it. Notably, two expatriate YouTubers, Jongrak from South Korea and Brandon Hurley from the US, have shared their fondness for it.

According to Jongrak, it is a common order among Koreans traveling in Vietnam, while Brandon described the dish as crunchy, refreshing, and perfectly seasoned.

In a recent ranking by Taste Atlas, ‘rau muong xao toi’ was listed as the 13th best stir-fried dish in Asia, out of five Vietnamese dishes recognized, including options like stir-fried pho and sautéed snails.

Taste Atlas emphasizes that this traditional Vietnamese dish is not only vegetarian-friendly but also serves as an excellent side to accompany white rice.

The key to preparing an enjoyable stir-fried morning glory with garlic lies in blanching before stir-frying, along with a savory mix of salt, sugar, and fish sauce.