The two “jungle men” who have been brought back to civilized life after spending 40 years in a forest had created a safe and sound habitat for themselves in the wild in central Quang Ngai province.

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The men, 82-year-old Ho Van Thanh, a former soldier in the Vietnam War; and his son, 44-year-old Ho Van Lang, were taken out of their “domain” on August 7, where they had lived since 1974, two years after a bombing killed Thanh’s mother and his two eldest children in Tra Kem Hamlet, Tra Tay District. They are now receiving help from their relatives and local authorities in Tra Kem Hamlet, Tay Tra District to re-integrate into society.Tuoi Tre reporters recently went on a fact-finding trip, with guidance from Ho Van Lam, Lang’s younger brother, to the area where the men lived to learn about what they made and how they lived in isolation from society so long. The habitat was in a forest called “Chat Che”, which means “hill of tea trees” in the Cor language. It is part of the Apon mountain range.  Four huts Besides the main hut from where they were taken out of the forest, the men built four similar homes, which the father and son lived in on a seasonal basis. The main hut, located near a small steam, was built on branches of large trees and many bamboo stakes that were plunged deep into the ground support it.

It has a door made of bamboo and leaves and a “staircase”, which was also made from forest trees and can stand the total weight of about 10 people at a time.

In order to create a water supply, Thanh and his son set up a system of bamboo tubes to bring water from streams to the hut.

The second hut is about 300 meters away and contains tools needed for daily living activities, as well asand seeds. The hut is very airy. “It is likely that my father and brother would live in this hut during the summer, and in winter they would return to the main hut near the spring,” Lam said. The third hut is located within an area where the men had grown rice, corn, cassava and other crops. This hut, which is simpler than the first two, served as a place to rest during harvesting season, Lam said. The last home is not far from the third and served as a warehouse for more tools for cultivation, as well as rudimentary weapons like spears, scimitars and swords, all of which are made of wood and metal. Thanh and his son made all of these tools. There are also some wooden statues. Notably, there is a musical instrument with two strings, which was also made by Thanh, Lam said. The instrument, which looks like a “đàn nhị” – a Vietnamese two-chord fiddle - generates a melancholic melody when played.Fruit gardens Within the forest area containing the four huts there is also a garden of fruit trees, covering an area of about 2,000 square meters.  The garden is located on the slope of a hill and is surrounded by many small streams. Besides fruit trees, the men also grew rice, corn, cassava, sweet potato, and many kinds of vegetables, including bitter melon, amaranth and basella alba, in the garden. They also grew spice plants such as saffron, citronella, onions, and some others. These spices were used to add flavor to venison or stream fish, Lam said, adding that the seeds for these plants were given to the men by locals. Perhaps most importantly, the garden also contains betel, areca, tobacco and tea. Many people say that it was thanks to these materials that the men survived frozen winters. “Chewing betel and areca bring us a warm sensation.  Areca helps prevent us from getting cold, while betel cleans our mouth,” Lam said.Fire and spiritual life  Fire was essential for the life of Thanh and his son in the deep forest, especially during the rainy seasons, Lam said. He showed us a bamboo cylinder containing tinder made from the trunks of Caryota mitis trees. The tinder ignites easily. “When we strike two pieces of rock against each other, the resulting sparks will cause the tinder burst into fire,” Lam said.  The flame would then be used to burn sap extracted from a kind of tree called “dầu rái” (Dipterocarpus alatus). Taking a lump of sap from the kitchen of the main hut, Lam said, “This is the ‘light’ of my father and brother. This lump, when lit, will light the whole hut. It cannot be put out by wind or drizzly weather.”    Lam also explained a small bell made of copper, which was the tool used to conduct worship rituals. It is also called a tool for “necromancy”. Thanh kept the bell in a secret place in the hut. When rung, it generates a tinkling sound that travels a great distance. “For the Cor ethnic minority people, this bell is indispensable when they conduct an offering ritual to worship Heaven and Earth,” Lam said. This means the men were able to maintain a spiritual life for themselves even when they lived in isolation from society.Bamboo spikes and traps  In order to protect themselves from wild animals, the men created bamboo spikes that were installed outside their huts. They also made traps to catch forest animals and even birds for food. Like the spikes, these traps were also installed throughout the forest, Lam said, pointing out clusters of spikes and numerous traps in a corner of the forest. Therefore, if they are not accompanied by a local, strangers entering the men’s dominion could easily fall victim to their “weapons”, Lam said. Even a few Cor people, in a moment of carelessness, have been injured by Thanh’s bamboo spikes, Lam added.