Beauty

The World’s Best Vegetable: Vietnam’s 45-Day Harvest Sensation, Now a Gourmet Delight at $1.75/kg

As the weather turns chilly, mustard greens become a beloved staple in local markets. This humble vegetable is not only affordable and easy to grow but also packed with nutrients, earning a perfect 100/100 score from the CDC in the U.S.

Administrator

14 November, 2025

Watercress, scientifically known as Nasturtium officinale, is an aquatic plant from the Brassicaceae family. It boasts crisp stems, dark green leaves, a mild peppery flavor, and a distinctive aroma. This plant thrives in cool, freshwater environments such as stream banks, flooded fields, and small ponds. In Vietnam, watercress is widely cultivated across all three regions, becoming a staple in daily meals.

This hardy plant is easy to grow and maintain. Within 30 to 45 days of sowing, the first harvest can be collected, with subsequent harvests every 20 to 30 days. Remarkably, watercress can continue to grow and yield for many years, even decades, without replanting. To ensure a bountiful harvest, farmers select flat, muddy fields, enrich the soil with organic fertilizer, and evenly scatter mature cuttings across the surface. After just one week, the cuttings take root, and in 45 days, the plants reach about 40 cm in height, ready for the first harvest.

With proper care, watercress plants can live for decades, though farmers typically cultivate them for 7 to 10 years to maintain productivity and quality. After this period, the soil is tilled, and crop rotation is practiced before replanting. This method allows the soil to recover, ensuring healthier, more robust, and tastier crops in subsequent seasons.

In the mountainous regions of northern Vietnam, watercress is often grown along natural streams, resulting in lush, tender plants with creamy white stems and thick, pesticide-free leaves. This variety is considered a delicacy, prized for its natural crispness and sweetness. Consumers need only rinse it a few times before cooking, free from concerns about parasites or chemicals. In contrast, watercress grown in low-lying or flooded fields often contains water hyacinth, requiring extensive washing that still may not remove all impurities. This premium watercress is transported to Hanoi, where it sells for 40,000 to 50,000 VND per kilogram, often selling out due to high demand.

“Stream-grown watercress is incredibly popular, despite its price of 40,000 to 50,000 VND per kilogram, which is 3 to 4 times higher than regular watercress. It consistently sells out,” shared a specialty vegetable vendor from the Northwest region.

Another standout feature of watercress is its adaptability, thriving both in water and on land. However, it prefers shaded, cool environments, typically grown near streams or canals. Many farmers propagate new plants using mature cuttings with extensive root systems, promoting faster, healthier growth and reducing pest susceptibility.