Vietnam's Sasquatch: A Bigfoot-Like Creature in Southeast Asian Jungles

In the world of the mysterious and unexplained, there are countless creatures and phenomena that capture our imagination and spark our curiosity. One such creature is the Người Rừng, or the Vietnam stone ape, a being that has been reported and documented throughout the jungles of Vietnam, Laos, and Northern Borneo. While not directly related to Bigfoot or Sasquatch, the stories and accounts of the Người Rừng share many similarities with those of our beloved hairy hominid. The Vietnam stone ape is described as a Sasquatch-like humanoid creature, ranging from three to seven feet tall, with a stout and muscular build. Its hair ranges in color from red to orange, brown, and even black. This creature is said to inhabit the Kang tum province of Vietnam, around the Wu Huang Nature Reserve, as well as in Laos and Northern Borneo. The name "Người Rừng" translates to "Forest people" in Iran, and the Cambodians refer to them as "tech tech." Some accounts even go so far as to call them "Rocket" due to their alleged ability to imitate human voices and lure unsuspecting victims to their doom. During the Vietnam War, both American and Vietcong soldiers reported encounters with the Người Rừng. These accounts describe the creature as having a protruding stomach, human-like features, and a grotesque appearance. Its hair is said to cover its body except for its face, hands, and the soles of its feet, which resemble oversized human feet. The stone ape's voice is reported to be heard at night, bellowing out in the darkness, possibly due to hunger or feeding on unfortunate creatures it has captured. While many cryptids and mysterious creatures are often dismissed by science, the Người Rừng, like Bigfoot, may have a historical and educational component to its stories. In Borneo, for example, tales of "wild men" were dismissed for years until the discovery of the orangutan. Similarly, the African mountain gorilla was once dismissed by Europeans, despite being believed in by local populations. The discovery of the Baton tampui orangutan species in 1997 serves as a reminder that new and exciting discoveries can still be made. One particularly intriguing account of the Người Rừng comes from U.S. Vietnam War veteran Craig PJ Jorgensen, who mentioned a human-like creature encountered by troops near the Wu Huang Nature Reserve in his book "Very Crazy GI." According to Jorgensen, the creature studied the soldiers from a distance before disappearing back into the jungle. Another account comes from Sergeant Gary Landraner, who, while serving in Vietnam as part of a long-range reconnaissance patrol, encountered a creature with deep-set eyes, a prominent brow, long and muscular arms, and a heavy torso. Landraner was certain that this creature was not a mountain gorilla, as some soldiers speculated, but a previously unknown being. The Viet Cong and Northern Vietnamese soldiers also reported sightings of reddish-brown, hairy beasts that matched the descriptions of the Người Rừng. These reports were taken so seriously that the Communist Party ordered scientists and military personnel to investigate. Some soldiers even claimed to have killed some of these creatures, suggesting that if they do exist, their numbers may have been significantly reduced due to the high level of combat during the war. While the existence of the Người Rừng remains unproven and rests largely in the realm of folklore and eyewitness accounts, the possibility of an undiscovered primate or other large mammal cannot be entirely ruled out. As Bigfoot believers, we remain open-minded and eager to explore and learn about all mysterious creatures and phenomena, whether they are directly related to our beloved Sasquatch or not. If you're intrigued by the stories of the Người Rừng, we encourage you to watch the video and delve deeper into the mysteries that the jungles of Vietnam, Laos, and Northern Borneo hold. Who knows what other fascinating creatures and stories await us in the world of the unknown?