Man vs. Wild (2006–2020): Season 4, Episode 3 - Vietnam - full transcript

I'M BEAR GRYLLS.

AND I'M GONNA SHOW YOU
WHAT IT TAKES TO GET OUT ALIVE

FROM SOME OF THE MOST DANGEROUS
PLACES ON EARTH.

I'VE GOT TO MAKE IT THROUGH
A SERIES OF CHALLENGES...

IN THE SORT OF PLACES
YOU WOULDN'T LAST A DAY

WITHOUT
THE RIGHT SURVIVAL SKILLS.

WHOO!

NOW I'M IN THE DENSE JUNGLES
OF VIETNAM,

TANGLING WITH SOME OF THE MOST

INHOSPITABLE TERRAIN
ON EARTH...

[ GRUNTS ]



...IN CONSTANT BATTLE
WITH NATURE'S WILD SIDE,

WHERE ONE SLIP
COULD COST YOU YOUR LIFE...

BE A BAD TIME
FOR THE VINE TO BREAK!

...WHERE EVERY ANIMAL
WANTS A PIECE OF YOU...

SEE THAT? LOOK.
SPITTING COBRA.

[ COBRA HISSING ]

...AND YOU'VE GOT TO GET THEM
BEFORE THEY GET YOU.

WHOA.

I'M PITTING MY WITS
AGAINST NATURE...

WHAA!

...AND SHOWING YOU WHAT
YOU NEED TO SURVIVE

IN ONE OF THE TOUGHEST
ENVIRONMENTS KNOWN TO MAN.

IT'S NOW QUITE A SCARY PLACE
TO BE.

I'M HEADING DEEP INTO A COUNTRY



WHICH OCCUPIES A UNIQUE PLACE

IN THE HEARTS AND MINDS
OF ALL AMERICANS.

THIS IS VIETNAM,

THE SCENE OF ONE OF THE MOST
BRUTAL WARS IN MODERN HISTORY.

DURING THE CONFLICT,

IT WASN'T JUST THE FIGHTING
THAT TOOK ITS TOLL.

THE JUNGLE ALSO PLAYED
A DEADLY ROLE.

AND OVER 3,000
AMERICAN FATALITIES

WERE FROM
NON-COMBATIVE CAUSES --

DISEASE, STARVATION,
AND ANIMAL ATTACKS.

IN OTHER WORDS,
THE JUNGLE GOT THEM.

EVERY YEAR IN VIETNAM,

30,000 PEOPLE ARE BITTEN

BY SOME OF THE DEADLIEST SNAKES
KNOWN TO MAN.

IF YOU DON'T KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE DOING,

YOU'RE GONNA STRUGGLE TO
GET OUT OF THIS JUNGLE ALIVE.

AND I'M HEADING RIGHT
INTO THE HEART OF IT.

I'M GOING FOR THE CLASSIC
VIETNAM INSERTION --

THE DUSTOFF,

WITH THE HELI HOVERING FOR THE
LEAST AMOUNT OF TIME POSSIBLE,

THEN I'M INTO THE JUNGLE
FOR COVER.

[ HELICOPTER ROTOR WHIRRING ]

WOW. JUST LOOK AT THIS PLACE.

THIS...IS GONNA BE A MISSION.

OKAY, LET'S GET INTO THIS.

ABOUT HALF OF VIETNAM

IS COVERED
IN TROPICAL RAIN FOREST.

UNDER COVER OF THE TREE CANOPY,

IN THE THICK VEGETATION
OF THE JUNGLE FLOOR,

VISIBILITY CAN BE AS LITTLE
AS A FEW YARDS.

[ GRUNTS ]
DIDN'T SEE THAT.

[ BREATHING HEAVILY ]

MAN, I ALMOST WENT
STRAIGHT OFF THE EDGE THERE.

IT'S JUST HARD IN THE JUNGLE

WITH SO MUCH FOLIAGE
RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU.

[ EXHALES DEEPLY ]

ANYWAY, THERE'S THE RIVER,

WHICH IS GOOD NEWS.

THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO FIND.

AND, ACTUALLY...

SO MANY OF THE P.O.W.
ESCAPE STORIES FROM VIETNAM --

THE SOLDIERS WHO WERE
SUCCESSFULLY IN GETTING OUT

WERE THE ONES THAT FOUND
THE RIVERS AND FOLLOWED THEM.

WHEW.

OKAY, WE NEED TO GET DOWN
TO THAT.

A RIVER WOULD BE A POTENTIAL
ROUTE BACK TO CIVILIZATION,

BUT GETTING DOWN THERE
MEANS A DIFFICULT CLIMB

OVER A SHEER DROP.

BRING IT DOWN.
COME ON.

THAT'S IT.

JUST WORK OUR WAY
ALONG THIS LEDGE.

WE'RE ABOUT 20 OR 30 FOOT
DOWN TO THERE,

BUT IT'S NOT THE HEIGHT
I'M WORRIED ABOUT.

IT'S WHAT'S UNDER THE WATER.

YOU KNOW, JUST 'CAUSE
THERE'S A WATERFALL HERE

DOESN'T MEAN IT'S DEEP.

THERE COULD BE LOGS -- BIG,
SUBMERGED DEADFALL DOWN THERE.

WE NEED SOME WAY
OF WORKING OUT THE DEPTH.

HANG ON. YOU STAY HERE.

BAMBOO IS ONE OF THE STRONGEST
PLANTS ON EARTH,

WITH A TENSILE STRENGTH
TO RIVAL STEEL,

AND IT LIKES TO GROW RIGHT NEXT
TO THE RIVERS OR WATER COURSES.

WHAT I WANT TO DO
WITH THESE BAMBOO...

IS GET
ALL OF THE LITTLE BRANCHES OFF

AND BASICALLY MAKE
ONE LONG, STRAIGHT SPEAR.

AND IT'S THEN THAT SPEAR

THAT I'M GONNA USE
TO THROW INTO THE WATER

AND GET AN IDEA
OF HOW DEEP IT IS.

AND ALSO PROBABLY WORTH JUST
SMASHING UP THE ENDS OF IT...

JUST TO STOP IT
STICKING IN THE MUD

AND THEN ENDING UP LIKE A...

NASTY MAN-TRAP UNDER THE WATER.

OKAY, THAT'S GONNA
STOP IT STICKING IN.

AND THEN THE IDEA IS
I CAN THROW THAT IN.

IF IT'S ONLY A COUPLE
OF FEET DEEP, I'M GONNA SEE IT.

OKAY, WELL, THAT'S WORKED.

IT WENT ALL THE WAY
INTO THE WATER.

AND LOOK.
YOU SEE -- IT'S JUST FLOATED UP.

THAT MEANS IT'S AT LEAST
THE LENGTH OF THAT DEEP,

IF NOT PROBABLY MORE,

SO I KNOW I'VE GOT AT LEAST
EIGHT FOOT TO PLAY WITH.

THE MORE SPEARS
YOU CAN THROW INTO THE WATER,

THE MORE CERTAIN YOU'LL BE
THAT THERE ARE NO HIDDEN ROCKS.

WELL, YOU KNOW, I'M HAPPY.
OKAY.

WHOO!

WHOO! FANTASTIC!

IT'S A QUICK WAY DOWN,

BUT, PROVIDING THE WATER'S
DEEP ENOUGH,

I'M CONFIDENT JUMPING HEIGHTS
UP TO 50 FOOT WITHOUT INJURY.

BUT YOU GOT TO CHECK OUT
THE RISKS FIRST.

AND NOW I'M WHERE
I WANT TO BE -- ON THE RIVER.

STAY HERE.
LET ME GO DOWN.

THE RIVER IS WHERE NATURE'S
CUT A PATH THROUGH THE JUNGLE,

AND IT CAN OFTEN BE
THE QUICKEST ROUTE.

I TRY TO REALLY USE THESE ROCKS,
JUST TO MOVE STEADY DOWN THIS.

YOU DON'T WANT TO END UP
GETTING TAKEN.

BUT THERE'S A HUGE AMOUNT
OF POWER IN THIS.

IF YOU GO WITH THE FLOW
OF THE WATER,

YOU CAN COVER GROUND
SURPRISINGLY FAST.

WELL, THAT'S WORKING.

AND I'M ACTUALLY MAKING QUITE
GOOD PROGRESS DOWNRIVER NOW.

BUT YOU CAN NEVER AFFORD
TO BE COMPLACENT.

RIVERS HAVE A HABIT
OF CATCHING YOU OUT.

STOP, STOP, STOP.

WHOO!

THAT'S A DROP YOU DO NOT
WANT TO GO OVER.

CAN YOU SEE DOWN THAT?

JUST GET BATTERED A BIT
ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE BOTTOM.

SEE, THIS IS REALLY WHY

THE JUNGLE'S SUCH A TOUGH
TERRAIN TO SURVIVE IN.

JUST OBSTACLE AFTER OBSTACLE
AWAITS.

CAN YOU IMAGINE
NOT ONLY TRYING TO SURVIVE HERE,

BUT THEN ALSO FIGHTING, AS WELL?

IT'S REALLY WHY SO MANY
YOUNG AMERICANS

HAD SUCH AN EPIC.

THEY CAME STRAIGHT OUT
FROM COLLEGE, NO EXPERIENCE,

STRAIGHT INTO ALL OF THIS.

AND IT'S NOT ONLY CANYONS
AND FLASH FLOODS AND WATERFALLS

AND IMPENETRABLE JUNGLE.

IT'S ALSO TEAMING

WITH EVERY SORT OF CREEPY-CRAWLY
AND SNAKE YOU CAN IMAGINE.

AND THEY ALWAYS TALK
OF THE SHOCK OF THE JUNGLE.

AND IT'S NOT ONLY --
HOW DO YOU COPE, PHYSICALLY?

IT'S --
HOW DO YOU COPE, MENTALLY?

OKAY, LET'S FIND A WAY
DOWN THIS RUDDY THING.

LET'S TAKE IT EASY
ON THIS.

THEY'RE SLIPPERY AS HELL.

IT DOESN'T GET A LOAD EASIER
THIS SIDE EITHER.

I RECKON THAT IF I CAN
GET DOWN TO THAT LEDGE --

YOU SEE THAT? --

I MIGHT WELL BE ABLE
TO STAND A CHANCE FROM THERE.

I'M GONNA NEED
SOME SORT OF GOOD, STRONG BRANCH

TO GET ACROSS THAT.

YEAH, LET'S GET INTO THE JUNGLE.

THE JUNGLE
IS FULL OF RESOURCES.

WHAT I NEED
IS A BRANCH OR TRUNK

STRONG ENOUGH TO TAKE MY WEIGHT
OVER THAT DROP.

I WANT A REALLY GOOD POINT
ON THIS

TO TRY AND WEDGE IT
IN ONE OF THE CRACKS DOWN THERE.

I'M AIMING TO USE THE TRUNK

AS A JUNGLE VERSION
OF A FIREMAN'S POLE,

WHICH I CAN USE TO CLIMB DOWN
ONTO THE NEXT LEDGE.

OKAY, THAT'S QUITE NICE.

THAT'S WEDGED IN HERE,
AS WELL.

WELL, THAT'S PRETTY GOOD,
I RECKON.

THE TRICK IS TO TRY AND AVOID

THAT WHITE WATER
RUNNING UNDERFOOT.

IT'S DECEPTIVELY POWERFUL --

ONE TOUCH CAN SWEEP YOU AWAY.

CLIMBING DOWN WET ROCK

IS OFTEN MORE RISKY
THAN CLIMBING UP,

ESPECIALLY IF YOU PASS
THE POINT OF NO RETURN.

[BLEEP]

WELL, THAT'S THE POLE GONE.

I'M QUITE COMMITTED NOW ON THIS.

ACTUALLY, LOOK --
YOU SEE THAT LOG,

JUST IN THE WHITE WATER,
STRAIGHT DOWN HERE?

MIGHT WELL BE ABLE
TO TRY AND SHIMMY DOWN THAT.

OKAY, YOU STAY HERE.

WITH HUNDREDS OF GALLONS
OF WATER

CASCADING OVER THE FALLS
EVERY SECOND,

THE FORCE IS BREATHTAKING.

ALL I CAN DO
IS HANG ON TO THE LOG.

WITH THIS WEIGHT OF WATER
ON ME,

EVEN BREATHING IS HARD.

GETTING DOWN THAT
WAS A MISSION,

AND WATERFALLS HAVE A HABIT
OF BEING RUTHLESS

IF YOU GET IT WRONG.

Shh, shh, shh.

THERE'S A CATFISH IN THIS POOL.

SEE HIM?
HE'S JUST GONE BEHIND THAT ROCK.

SEE? STRAIGHT IN THERE,
BEHIND THE GRASS.

THERE YOU GO. SEE HIM MOVING?

ACTUALLY, DO YOU KNOW WHAT?
LOOK. WE CAN DAM THIS.

STAY THERE.

CATFISH ARE FOUND IN FRESHWATER
ALL AROUND THE WORLD,

AND ALL SPECIES ARE EDIBLE.

THE LARGEST OF ALL
IS THE GIANT CATFISH,

NATIVE TO SOUTH VIETNAM,

WHICH CAN WEIGH
OVER 600 POUNDS.

THIS ONE'S A TIDDLER
BY COMPARISON,

BUT IT'S GONNA BE GOOD EATING.

YOU SEE HIM? LOOK.
HE'S JUST HERE.

JUST CAUGHT HIS TAIL.

OKAY, LET ME DAM THIS BIT,
AS WELL.

WE'LL KEEP HIM IN THIS POOL.
STAY THERE.

OKAY.

THERE'S ONE CATFISH NOW
TRAPPED IN HERE, WHICH IS GOOD.

IT MEANS I CAN BIDE MY TIME,

GO AND MAKE MYSELF
SOME SORT OF SPEAR

AND TRY AND GET HIM.

THAT'S GONNA BE LUNCH.

YOU CAN SHARPEN BAMBOO UP
TO MAKE A LETHAL SPEAR,

AND I WANT TO MAXIMIZE
MY CHANCES

OF CATCHING THAT CATFISH.

I WANT TO MAKE THIS
REALLY INTO EIGHT PRONGS,

SO I SPLIT THE HEAD OF IT
AND THEN SHARPEN THEM.

AND THEN LOOK --
YOU GET A LITTLE BIT OF BAMBOO

AND WEDGE IT DOWN THE MIDDLE.

YOU'LL SEE...THAT JUST SPLAYING
THOSE PRONGS.

SPEARFISHING LIKE THIS

HAS BEEN USED
BY RIVER COMMUNITIES

ALL 'ROUND THE WORLD
FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS.

IT'S SUCH AN ANCIENT TECHNIQUE

IT'S EVEN DEPICTED
IN CAVE PAINTINGS.

OKAY, AND THEN THOSE
I CAN JUST SHARPEN UP.

AND THAT'S GONNA BE
MUCH MORE EFFECTIVE...FISHING

THAN JUST USING ONE-PRONG SPEAR.

OKAY, AND WHEN
THEY'RE GOOD AND SHARP,

YOU CAN THEN JUST GET RID
OF ALL OF THESE BITS.

AND YOU'RE LEFT WITH THAT.

OKAY.

TIME TO CATCH A CATFISH.

WHAT HE WOULD HAVE DONE
IS SHOOT UNDER THIS BANK

BEHIND ALL THAT GRASS --
NICE AND SHELTERED THERE.

AND ALSO,
NOW HE KNOWS I'M AROUND,

HE'S GONNA BE TRYING TO HIDE,
AS WELL.

THERE HE IS. THERE HE IS.

THERE YOU GO.

BANG ON THE MONEY.

AND LOOK.

THESE ARE THE BITS
YOU WANT TO BE CAREFUL OF --

THESE BARBS HERE.

SEE THAT?

SEE THAT LITTLE PRONG
JUST POKING OUT THERE.

AND THESE ARE HIS WHISKERS.

THAT'S WHY IT'S CALLED
A CATFISH.

AND THERE YOU GO. LOOK.

IF I'D HAD A SINGLE-PRONG SPEAR,
I WOULD HAVE MISSED THAT.

I JUST CAUGHT HIM
ON THE EDGE OF THIS ONE,

SO THAT WAS WORTH DOING.

BULL'S-EYE!

REALLY, I WANT TO TAKE
HIS WHOLE HEAD OFF.

AND THAT'S ALL THE GUTS
THAT I DON'T WANT.

AND THEN ALL OF THIS
IS FINE TO EAT.

CRUNCHY...

...AND TASTES LIKE IT LOOKS --
UGLY.

BUT MASSES OF GOOD PROTEIN,
GOOD ENERGY,

REALLY GONNA HELP
ANY JUNGLE SURVIVOR

FINDING FISH LIKE THIS,

ESPECIALLY WHEN
IT'S OPPORTUNISTICALLY FOUND.

AND OPPORTUNISM
IS WHAT SURVIVAL IS ALL ABOUT.

YOU NEED TO KEEP AN EYE OUT
FOR ANYTHING THAT CAN HELP YOU

IN YOUR QUEST TO STAY ALIVE.

IT'S A PINE TREE -- THIS ONE.

AND THIS IS DEFINITELY
NOT FROM 'ROUND HERE.

SEE? THIS HAS BEEN
SWEPT DOWNRIVER.

IT JUST SHOWS THE POWER
OF THIS RIVER

WHEN IT'S IN FLOOD.

THE PINE WOULD HAVE COME
FROM WAY FURTHER UP HIGH.

BUT, ACTUALLY, IT'S A FAT PINE,
AS WELL, THIS,

WHICH IS GOOD FOR ME,

'CAUSE I CAN USE THIS
FOR TINDER.

FAT PINE TREES LIKE THIS

CAN BE UP TO 80%
FLAMMABLE RESIN,

MAKING IT VERY EASY TO LIGHT,

EVEN IN THE HUMIDITY
OF THE JUNGLE.

GOOD THING ABOUT
THESE LITTLE PINE STICKS,

EVEN IF THEY GET WET --

YOU KNOW, IF IT RAINS,
OR THEY TAKE A DUNKING --

ONCE THEY SHAKE OFF,
GET A BIT DRY,

THEY'RE STILL GONNA LIGHT,

'CAUSE THEY'RE SO PACKED
FULL OF THAT RESIN THAT BURNS.

OKAY. LET'S GET GOING.

YOU'VE GOT TO READ THE RIVER
FOR ANY SIGNS OF DANGER.

A FALLEN PINE TREE
CAN BE A GODSEND,

BUT IT CAN ALSO BE A SIGN

THAT THE RIVER ISN'T ALWAYS
A SAFE PLACE TO BE.

STOP, STOP!

THE WATER LEVEL HERE
IS DEFINITELY RISING.

LOOK BACK UP TO THE WATERFALL.

THERE'S DEFINITELY MORE WATER
COMING DOWN THAT.

OKAY, I WANT US
OUT OF THE WATER. OKAY?

IT MAY BE A SMALL CHANGE,

BUT IF A JUNGLE RIVER LIKE THIS
STARTS TO RISE,

YOU'VE GOT TO GET OUT
BEFORE IT'S TOO LATE.

UP YOU COME, UP YOU COME,
UP YOU COME.

GOOD. I'VE GOT YOU.

A SURGE IN WATER AFTER
HEAVY RAIN IN THE MOUNTAINS

OR A DAM OPENING UPSTREAM,

WHATEVER THE CAUSE,
THE EFFECTS CAN BE DEVASTATING.

WHOA, LOOK, LOOK, LOOK, LOOK!

LOOK AT THE WATERFALL!

THAT WAS JUST A KIND OF
SMALL TORRENT BEFORE.

THERE IS A LOAD MORE WATER
COMING DOWN HERE NOW.

THAT WIND IS JUST INCREDIBLE.

YOU WANT TO SEE WHAT A SURGE
OR A FLASH FLOOD LOOKS LIKE?

LOOK AT THAT.

FLASH FLOODS
ARE A HUGE PROBLEM IN VIETNAM.

IN 2008,
OVER 100 PEOPLE WERE KILLED

IN A SINGLE FLASH FLOOD
CAUSED BY A TROPICAL STORM.

AND THEY RECKON
JUST ONE FOOT OF WATER

IS ENOUGH TO TAKE A MAN
OFF HIS FEET.

TWO FEET --
ENOUGH TO TAKE YOUR CAR AWAY.

BUT THIS HAS ALREADY RISEN
AT LEAST THREE OR FOUR FEET.

AND IT'S GOING UP FAST.

AND THE BARE FACTS ARE --

YOU DROP INTO THIS NOW,

WHERE ALL OF THIS AMOUNT
OF WATER RACING THROUGH,

IT'S GAME OVER.

IT'S PROPERLY GAME OVER.

THIS IS NOW
QUITE A SCARY PLACE TO BE.

THIS WATER LEVEL
IS STILL RISING.

I WANT TO GET OFF THIS LEDGE.

I'M GONNA TRY
AND UPCLIMB THIS, OKAY?

THIS RIVER IS DEFINITELY NOW
OUT OF ACTION.

AND WE'RE BACK INTO THE JUNGLE.

BUT HEADING
BACK INTO THE JUNGLE

BRINGS ITS OWN DANGERS.

COVER YOUR EYES.
COVER YOUR EYES.

SPITTING COBRA.

OKAY, WE DON'T WANT TO BE
ANY CLOSER THAN THIS.

LOOK, HE'S JUST LOOKING
STRAIGHT...

STRAIGHT AT ME HERE.

HE'S WATCHING.
I'LL TELL YOU WANT.

I'M GONNA GET THE CAMERA
ON THE END OF THIS.

GIVE US THAT CAMERA.

THAT'S IT. OKAY.
NOW, LET ME JUST --

JUST KEEP AN EYE ON HIM
WHILE I TIE THIS ON.

A SPITTING COBRA
BLINDS ITS PREY

BEFORE IT ATTACKS.

IT CAN LAUNCH ITS VENOM
OVER EIGHT FOOT.

I DO NOT WANT TO GET
TOO CLOSE TO THIS.

[ HISSES ]

ITS POISON
ATTACKS THE NERVOUS SYSTEM,

LEADING TO PARALYSIS.

[ COBRA HISSES ]

THIS IS ONE SNAKE
YOU DON'T WANT TO MESS WITH

IF YOU DON'T KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

[ GRYLLS CHUCKLES SOFTLY ]

YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE
THE VENOM ON THE LENS HERE.

YOU SEE THAT --
WHERE IT SPAT?

THAT IS WHAT YOU DO NOT WANT...
IN YOUR EYE.

OKAY, LET'S MOVE
AWAY FROM HIM NOW. HE'S PISSED.

YOU SEE A SNAKE LIKE THAT,

IT DEFINITELY
GETS THE HEART GOING

AND JUST REMINDS YOU
HOW CAREFUL YOU'VE GOT TO BE

MOVING THROUGH THE JUNGLE,

AND IT'S OFTEN A GOOD IDEA
TO MOVE WITH A HEAVY FOOTFALL,

AS SNAKES WORK OFF VIBRATIONS,

AND IF YOU LET THEM KNOW
YOU'RE COMING,

THEY'RE GENERALLY GONNA
MOVE OUT YOUR WAY.

IN THE JUNGLE, EVERYTHING
WANTS A PIECE OF YOU --

BIG OR SMALL.

AND ONE
OF THE SMALLEST CREATURES

IS ALSO
ONE OF THE MOST ANNOYING.

ANYONE WHO'S EVER SPENT TIME
IN THE VIETNAMESE JUNGLE

WILL KNOW ALL ABOUT LEECHES.

OH, I'M REALLY GETTING HAMMERED
BY THESE THINGS.

OH, LOOK.

YOU SEE THIS ONE
IS JUST FULL...OF BLOOD.

YOU CAN JUST SEE
HOW MUCH...THEY TAKE OUT.

THE HOT, STEAMY ENVIRONMENT IS
THE PERFECT PLACE FOR LEECHES.

THESE WEIRD CREATURES
ARE HEAT-SEEKING

AND WILL LIE IN WAIT
IN THE LEAF LITTER FOR MONTHS

UNTIL AN UNSUSPECTING PIG,
TIGER,

OR EVEN BEAR WALKS PAST.

I DON'T KNOW ABOUT YOU,

BUT I'M GETTING LOADS
OF THESE LEECHES ON.

LOOK. YOU CAN SEE WHERE
THEY'VE BEEN FEEDING.

JUST BLOOD ON THE TROUSERS.

ACTUALLY, YOU KNOW,
IT'S JUST WORTH JUST CHECKING...

CHECKING ALL OVER THERE.

YEAH, LOOK.

GET HIM OFF.

AND I'VE GOT A LEECH --
A VIETNAMESE LEECH.

WELL, ACTUALLY,
THE LATIN TRANSLATION

IS "TERRIFYING,
FEROCIOUS LEECH."

AND THE REASON FOR THAT

IS THAT THEY OFTEN GO
FOR CREVICES ON THE HUMAN BODY.

AND THERE'S A STORY OF A SOLIDER
IN VIETNAM

WHO ACTUALLY HAD ONE
GO RIGHT UP HIS "JOHN THOMAS"

AND ENDED UP INSIDE HIS BLADDER,

WHICH YOU DO NOT
WANT TO HAPPEN TO YOU.

THE JUNGLE IS A CONSTANT DRAIN
ON THE BODY'S RESOURCES.

YOU'VE GOT TO KEEP THEM
TOPPED UP WHENEVER YOU CAN.

IF YOU STAY ALERT,

YOU CAN FIND FOOD
IN SURPRISING PLACES...

WHOA!

...AND ALWAYS EXPECT
THE UNEXPECTED.

HEY, LOOK. COME DOWN HERE.

CHECK THIS OUT.

IT'S LIKE SOME SORT OF
OLD LAVA TUNNEL.

YEAH, LOOK.

YOU SEE ALL OF THIS ROCK HERE?

IT'S ALL VOLCANIC --
ALL OF THAT.

ACTUALLY, THIS IS PROBABLY
SOME SORT OF OLD VENT,

WHERE ALL OF THIS
IS THE FRAGMENTED ROCK

WHERE THE LAVA'S BURST OUT
AND THEN HARDENED.

THEY'RE ALWAYS QUITE...
QUITE SINISTER LOOKING --

THESE SORT OF PLACES.

BUT THEY'RE ALSO GOOD PLACES
TO HUNT FOR FOOD --

YOU KNOW, JUST THE SORT OF PLACE

THAT CREEPY-CRAWLIES,
SNAKES, AND STUFF WOULD LOVE.

ACTUALLY, I'M GONNA MAKE
SOME SORT OF TORCH

AND HAVE A LITTLE LOOK
AROUND THIS.

I'LL JUST USE
A BIT OF THIS BAMBOO AGAIN.

LET'S GET A LOAD OF THESE
FAT PINE -- LITTLE BITS.

STUFF THEM IN THE TOP THERE.

THAT WILL DO.

AND THEN JUST TO GET
THE ACTUAL FLAME GOING,

TAKE A BIT OF THIS FAT PINE...

AND JUST SCRAPE OFF
SOME SHAVINGS FROM IT.

AND THAT SHOULD TAKE A SPARK.

EVEN IN THE EXTREME HUMIDITY
OF THE JUNGLE FLOOR,

THE RESIN'S SO FLAMMABLE THAT
IT WILL LIGHT STRAIGHTAWAY.

AH, THAT'S GOOD, ISN'T IT?

PACKED WITH PINE RESIN,

THE TORCH SHOULD BURN BRIGHTLY
FOR A GOOD 10 MINUTES OR SO.

I'M LOOKING FOR FOOD,

BUT I'VE NO IDEA WHAT CREATURES
MAY BE LURKING IN THE DARKNESS.

MAN, LOOK AT THIS PLACE.

IT'S COMPLETELY OPENED UP!

LOOK AT THIS.

QUITE AN EERIE PLACE
TO BE, ACTUALLY, HERE.

SOME OF THE NASTIEST
CREEPY-CRAWLIES I'VE EVER SEEN

I'VE FOUND IN CAVES
LIKE THIS BEFORE,

AND OFTEN HIDDEN IN THE CRACKS

OR THE CRACKS IN THE ROOF,
AS WELL.

LOOK AT THAT.

IT'S GETTING A BIT LOW HERE.

LOOK. THERE'S A BAT.
LOOK. SEE THAT?

WHOA.

SWOOPED STRAIGHT OVER US.

I CAN SEE LIGHT
COMING IN AT THE END OF THIS.

SEE THAT?

LET'S KEEP GOING.

MAN, LOOK.

YOU CAN SEE THE BATS.
SEE THEM FLYING?

SILHOUETTED
AGAINST THE WHITE LIGHT.

SEE THEM?

LOADS OF THEM FLYING AROUND.

OKAY. OW.

ALTHOUGH THEY CAN OFTEN
CARRY THE RABIES VIRUS,

COOKED BATS ARE A DELICACY
IN PARTS OF VIETNAM.

AT THE MOMENT, THEY HAVE
THE ADVANTAGE OVER ME OF SPEED.

THEY CAN FLY LIKE LIGHTNING,
EVEN IN THE DARK,

BY WORKING OFF OF SONAR.

BUT WITH THIS, I CAN TRY
AND CLOSE THAT ADVANTAGE,

AND THROW IT PROBABLY FASTER
THAN THEY CAN FLY.

SEE IF WE CAN GET ONE.

JUST WATCH OUT 'CAUSE I'M GONNA
TAKE A SWING AT THESE THINGS.

[ GRUNTING ]

WHOA.

BATS ARE ACTUALLY THE ONE THING
I'M NOT THAT GREAT WITH,

ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY'RE MAD.

NOW THE BATS
KNOW SOMETHING'S UP.

THEY'RE HEADED FOR COVER.

TRUTH BE TOLD,
BATS AREN'T MY CUP OF TEA.

WHOA! GOD! WHEW!

AND I'M NOT ENJOYING THIS.

YEAH, WE'RE NOT GONNA GET
ONE OF THESE, YOU KNOW?

LET'S GET OUT OF THIS PLACE.
COME ON.

SOMETIMES YOU'VE GOT TO KNOW
WHEN TO CALL IT A DAY.

THOSE BATS WERE JUST
TOO FAST FOR ME.

IT'S A GOLDEN RULE OF SURVIVAL

THAT YOU DON'T EXPEND
MORE ENERGY THAN YOU GET

WHEN TRYING TO CATCH FOOD.

IT'S ALWAYS A RELIEF
IN THE JUNGLE

WHEN EVENING COMES

AND THE SEARING HEAT
DROPS A LITTLE.

BUT OUT HERE, NEAR THE EQUATOR,
NIGHT COMES FAST,

AND YOU GOT TO BE QUICK GETTING
YOUR FOOD AND SHELTER SORTED.

ACTUALLY, THIS WOULDN'T BE A
BAD PLACE TO TRY AND MAKE CAMP.

YOU KNOW,
I CAN USE A LOT OF THESE LIMBS,

GET MYSELF UP, OFF THE GROUND.

YOU KNOW, I'VE GOT WATER NEARBY,
PROBABLY FOOD,

BUT THE MAIN THING IS
I WANT TO BE OFF THE GROUND

WHERE...ALL OF
THE CREEPY-CRAWLIES,

ALL OF THE ANTS ARE GONNA BE.

THE FOREST FLOOR IS ALIVE

WITH STINGING BUGS
AND CREEPY-CRAWLIES AT NIGHT.

MAKING A HAMMOCK OR A BED
AT LEAST A FOOT OFF THE GROUND

IS A MUST
IF YOU WANT TO GET ANY SLEEP.

THIS IS GONNA BE
PRETTY RUDIMENTARY,

BUT AT LEAST
I'M OFF THE JUNGLE FLOOR,

AND ACTUALLY THERE'S QUITE
A NICE BREEZE UP HERE, AS WELL,

WHICH MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE

FROM THE HEAT AND HUMIDITY
OF THE JUNGLE DOWN THERE.

OVERNIGHT IS A GOOD TIME
FOR HUNTING.

THAT'S WHEN MANY POTENTIAL
FOOD SOURCES COME OUT TO FEED.

AND THAT'S WHEN BAMBOO
COMES INTO ITS OWN

FOR MAKING LETHAL TRAPS.

THESE PRONGS REALLY ARE -- LOOK.

YOU CAN SEE
THESE ARE SHARP AS YOU LIKE.

MANY OF THESE
SORT OF VIETNAMESE ANIMAL TRAPS

WERE USED TO DEVASTATING EFFECT
BY THE VIETCONG DURING THE WAR.

BASICALLY ALL THEY DID WAS
UPSCALE THEM TO MAN-TRAPS.

WHAT THEY'D ALSO QUITE OFTEN DO
WAS SMEAR THE TIPS OF THESE

WITH HUMAN EXCREMENT,

AND THEIR AIM
REALLY WASN'T TO KILL.

THEIR AIM WAS TO MAIM.

AND THEY KNEW THAT A PATROL
WAS MUCH MORE VULNERABLE

IF THEY HAD TO FEND
FOR THEIR WOUNDED

THAN IF THEY WERE JUST
ONE MAN DOWN.

AND THAT REALLY IS
PSYCHOLOGICAL WARFARE.

ALL I REALLY WANT OUT OF THIS
IS SOMETHING TO EAT.

THAT'S ALL SET.

AND THEN ALL I NEED TO DO IS
SET THE TRIGGER TO RELEASE THIS.

A THIN PIECE OF VINE
ACTS AS A TRIPWIRE,

LOOSELY ATTACHED
TO A SPRING STICK

WHICH TRIGGERS A TRAP
WHEN ANY PREY TOUCHES IT --

SIMPLE BUT DEADLY.

OKAY, THIS IS NOW PRIMED.

BASICALLY, IF SOMETHING
COMES ALONG AND TRIGGERS THIS...

[ GRUNTS ]

...THEY'RE GONNA GET SKEWERED
IN THAT.

OKAY, LET'S SET IT
AND THEN GET UP INTO THE TREE.

THERE'S A SCORPION HERE.
SEE THAT?

QUITE A GOOD SIZE ONE, AS WELL.

THERE YOU GO. I'LL LET YOU
SEE HIM UNDER HERE.

SEE HIM UNDER THERE?

WHEN YOU'RE PICKING
A SCORPION UP,

YOU'VE GOT TO BE SUPER CAREFUL.

AND THE WAY TO DO IT

IS GET HIM BY THE STINGER
AT THE BACK THERE.

AND AS LONG AS YOU'VE GOT HIM
BY THAT,

HE CAN'T STRIKE.

BUT WHAT I'VE KNOWN
HAPPEN BEFORE --

PEOPLE PICK IT UP LIKE THAT,

AND THE CLAWS COME 'ROUND
AND GRAB YOU AND YOU GO, "OW."

LET GO OF THE TAIL,
AND -- WHAP -- YOU GET STRUCK.

SO, ONCE YOU'VE GOT IT
BY THE TAIL,

YOU'VE GOT TO HOLD ON TO IT.

WELL, THAT AT LEAST...GONNA MAKE
GOOD DINNER FOR TONIGHT.

ACTUALLY,
I'LL TURN A LITTLE BIT.

HERE, HOLD THAT.

[ LAUGHS ]

HERE, LOOK.

RIGHT NOW I'VE GOT
ITS STINGER OFF.

I'M GONNA KEEP THAT FOR DINNER
WHEN I FINISH MY CAMP.

OKAY.

FIRE NOT ONLY MAKES YOU FEEL
MUCH BETTER

AT THE END OF THE DAY,

IT ALSO HELPS KEEP
THE MOSQUITOES AWAY.

AND IN VIETNAM,
THE MOSQUITOES CAN BE FEROCIOUS.

THERE'S A STORY
OF ONE U.S. SOLDIER

WHO WAS DRIVEN SO MAD BY THEM,

HE ENDED UP SLEEPING
IN A PADDY FIELD UNDERWATER

WITH JUST HIS HEAD POKING OUT,

AND ON HIS HEAD,
HE WORE A GAS MASK.

NOW, THIS IS GONNA HELP
KEEP THEM AWAY.

MOST OF VIETNAM
IS A MALARIA ZONE.

YOU SHOULD NEVER UNDERESTIMATE
THE DANGER OF MALARIA.

ABOUT A MILLION PEOPLE DIE
OF IT WORLDWIDE EVERY YEAR.

A SMOKY CAMPFIRE WILL KEEP
THE WORST OF THE MOSQUITOES OFF

AND POSSIBLY SAVE YOUR LIFE.

THERE YOU GO.

IMPROVISED CHOPSTICKS.

GRILLED SCORPION.

[ BLOWING ]

I'VE EATEN
LOADS OF SCORPIONS BEFORE,

BUT THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN RAW
AND DISGUSTING,

BUT WHEN YOU COOK THEM,

THEY'RE ACTUALLY QUITE NICE.

AH, MAN, THESE MOSQUITOES...

[ HIGH-PITCHED BUZZING ]

...JUST RELENTLESS HERE.

[ INSECTS CHIRPING LOUDLY ]

THEY OFTEN TALK ABOUT
WHEN IT GETS DARK IN THE JUNGLE,

THE WHOLE PLACE
JUST COMES ALIVE.

THEY TALK ABOUT
THE NIGHT SHIFT COMING ON.

AND I KNOW WHAT THEY MEAN.

IT JUST SOUNDS...
LIKE THE WHOLE PLACE IS ALIVE,

WHICH I GUESS
IT KIND OF IS, REALLY.

JUST MAKES IT HARD TO SLEEP,
YOU KNOW?

AFTER A PRETTY SLEEPLESS NIGHT

AT THE MERCY OF STINGING BUGS
AND MOSQUITOES,

IT'S A RELIEF TO SEE DAYLIGHT.

MAN, THIS HAS BEEN SPRUNG
BY SOMETHING.

WHATEVER IT WAS,

IT WAS LUCKY...

AND FAST.

I DON'T WANT
TO LEAVE THIS...SET, THOUGH.

DESPITE LAST NIGHT'S
CLOSE SHAVE,

THE TRAP CAUGHT NOTHING.

A GOOD IDEA, BUT, REALLY,
IF YOU WANT TO MAXIMIZE

YOUR CHANCES
OF CATCHING SOMETHING,

SETTING SEVERAL TRAPS
IS THE WAY TO GO.

THE AVERAGE ADULT CAN GO
TWO WEEKS WITHOUT FOOD

BEFORE FEELING
ANY SERIOUS EFFECTS.

BUT WITHOUT FLUIDS,

YOU WOULDN'T LAST
TWO DAYS HERE.

[ HIGH-PITCHED TAPPING ]

GOOD WAY OF FINDING WATER
IN THE JUNGLE

IS JUST FROM THESE BAMBOOS.

YOU CAN SEE
EACH OF THESE IN SEPARATE CELLS,

AND SOME OF THEM ARE FULL
OF WATER AND SOME AREN'T.

BUT IF YOU LISTEN...
THEY SOUND QUITE HOLLOW.

[ HIGH-PITCHED TAPPING
CONTINUES ]

[ LOW-PITCHED TAPPING ]

THAT FEELS MUCH DULLER
AND DENSER,

AND THAT MIGHT WELL
HAVE WATER IN THERE.

AND IN A PLACE WHERE YOU NEED

ABOUT A PINT OF FLUIDS
EVERY HOUR,

WHEN YOU COME ACROSS BAMBOO
LIKE THIS,

YOU'VE GOT TO USE IT.

[ SLURPING ]

[ LOW-PITCHED TAPPING
CONTINUES ]

I KNOW THERE WAS A U.S. PATROL
OF SOLDIERS OUT HERE --

ABOUT 140 OF THEM --

AND 70 OF THOSE
ENDED UP GETTING HEAT STROKE

'CAUSE THEY STOPPED DRINKING,
DIDN'T DRINK ENOUGH.

OH, LOOK, THERE'S NOT WATER
IN THIS ONE,

BUT THERE IS THIS.

LOOK.

SO, THERE YOU GO.

NOT ONLY WATER, ALSO
A GOOD, LITTLE SOMETHING TO EAT.

COOL.

LIKE MANY U.S. TROOPS
IN THE CONFLICT HERE,

I'M GETTING AIRLIFTED OUT
BY HELICOPTER.

ALL I HAVE TO DO NOW
IS LOCATE THE LANDING ZONE,

BUT KEEPING ON THE STRAIGHT
AND NARROW

IS EASIER SAID THAN DONE
IN THE DENSE JUNGLE CANOPY.

YEAH, LOOK. THIS WILL DO.

ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS
THAT SURVIVORS FACE

WHEN THEY'RE TRYING TO GET OUT
OF SOMEWHERE

IS JUST MAINTAINING
ANY SORT OF DIRECTION,

KEEPING ON A COURSE,

AND THERE'S NOWHERE HARDER
THAN IN THE JUNGLE

JUST 'CAUSE YOU'RE SURROUNDED
BY ALL THIS STUFF.

IT BASICALLY ALL LOOKS THE SAME.

AND YOU KNOW,
YOU DON'T HAVE THE LUXURY

OF HAVING THE SUN OR THE WIND
ALWAYS ON ONE SIDE OF YOU,

ON THE SIDE OF YOUR FACE.

YOU'RE BASICALLY BURIED
UNDER ALL OF THIS JUNGLE CANOPY.

A GOOD LITTLE TRICK
IS JUST TO USE A VINE,

AND THIS IS A GOOD ONE.

IT'S A RATTAN VINE,
WHICH IS LONG,

AND IT'S STRAIGHT.

ALL YOU DO -- CUT YOURSELF AS
LONG A LENGTH AS YOU CAN FIND...

GET THE END OF IT...

...MAKE A FEW COILS OF THAT,

LOCK IT ON ITSELF,

AND THEN ALL YOU'VE GOT TO DO
IS WALK,

AND EVERY MINUTE OR SO,
AS LONG AS YOU LOOK BEHIND YOU

AND SEE IT
LAYING OUT IN A STRAIGHT LINE,

YOU KNOW YOU'RE NOT
BENDING OFF-COURSE.

OKAY. LET'S GO WITH IT.

THE METHOD IS SIMPLE,
ALTHOUGH NOT 100% FOOLPROOF.

IT ALLOWS YOU TO MOVE QUICKLY
THROUGH THE JUNGLE

CONFIDENT THAT YOU WON'T BE
JUST GOING

'ROUND AND 'ROUND IN CIRCLES.

I'M STICKING TO MY BEARING
AND MAKING GOOD PROGRESS.

BUT ALL TOO SOON,
I'M STOPPED IN MY TRACKS.

AAH.

A DEEP GORGE
IS BLOCKING MY PATH.

AS YOU CAN SEE,
IT'S QUITE A DROP-OFF DOWN THAT.

YOU KNOW, THIS GULLY'S
ALMOST JUMPABLE,

BUT THAT ROCK THERE
IS GONNA BE SUPER SLIPPY.

I SHOULD PROBABLY
JUST USE THIS VINE HERE.

BACK UP.

SEE HOW STRONG THIS IS.

YEAH.

THAT'S GONNA BE GOOD.

OKAY, LET ME GET ACROSS.

MY PICKUP POINT'S ON THE OTHER
SIDE OF THE RIVER...

THAT'S IF I CAN GET ACROSS
IN ONE PIECE.

WHEW! BE A BAD TIME
FOR THE VINE TO BREAK!

I'M IN THE HEART
OF THE VIETNAMESE JUNGLE,

HEADING TO A HELI PICKUP
TO GET ME OUT OF HERE.

UGH.

[ EXHALES DEEPLY ]

CHECK THIS OUT --

AN OLD DISUSED RAILWAY TUNNEL.

AND YOU CAN SEE
IT'S RUNNING STRAIGHT THROUGH...

STRAIGHT THROUGH
THIS RIDGE LINE.

WELL, THIS IS GONNA SAVE ME
LOADS OF TIME

GOING THROUGH THIS.

THIS TUNNEL IS A BIZARRE RELIC
OF VIETNAM'S COLONIAL PAST.

UNDER FRENCH RULE,

A NETWORK OF RAILWAYS WAS BUILT
THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY.

BUT AFTER THE CONFLICT
WITH AMERICA,

RAW MATERIALS BECAME SCARCE

AND THE VIETNAMESE
PULLED UP THE RAILWAY TRACKS

FOR SCRAP METAL,

LEAVING TUNNELS LIKE THIS
TO FALL INTO RUIN.

IT'S JUST DECADES AND DECADES

OF MUD AND WATER...

FILLED UP THROUGH HERE.

YOU MIGHT WELL GET THINGS
LIVING IN THIS WATER.

JUST KEEP YOUR EYE OPEN A BIT.

AND MY RECKONING IS --

IT'S NOT ALL
GONNA BE GOOD, EITHER.

IT'S A GOOD PLACE FOR SNAKES,
AS WELL, IN HERE...

IF THERE IS SUCH A THING
AS A GOOD PLACE.

GOOD FOR SNAKES. BAD FOR US.

HERE YOU GO.

HERE. LOOK. CAN YOU SEE?

LOOK. COME HERE.

I'VE JUST SEEN A FROG.

WHOO!

WHAT A FROG!

HERE. HOLD THAT.

AND, YOU KNOW,
ALMOST ANY FROG IS GOOD TO EAT.

AND IT MIGHT NOT LOOK
VERY TASTY,

BUT, ACTUALLY, OUT HERE,
THERE'S ARE QUITE A DELICACY.

MAYBE NOT RAW.

OKAY.

[ GRUNTS, SPITS ]

AND THEN THAT'S ALL
THE GUTS HERE.

GET THOSE OUT.

AND THE REST OF THAT...
IS NICE TO EAT.

KNOWN AS "GREEN CHICKEN"
TO LOCALS,

FROGS ARE FREQUENTLY
ON THE MENU IN VIETNAM,

THOUGH THEY'RE NORMALLY
COOKED FIRST.

IN THE WILD,
THEY'RE GENERALLY SAFE TO EAT,

AS LONG AS THEY'RE NOT
BRIGHTLY COLORED.

TOADS, HOWEVER, SECRETE POISON
AND SHOULD BE AVOIDED.

OKAY, LET'S KEEP MOVING ON.

THE TUNNEL WAS A GREAT WAY

OF AVOIDING
CLIMBING OVER THE RIDGE --

A GOOD SHORTCUT.

AND NOW IT'S TIME TO MAKE THAT
RENDEZVOUS WITH A HELICOPTER

TO GET ME OUT OF HERE.

[ HELICOPTER ROTOR WHIRRING ]

I CAN HEAR THE DISTANT SOUND
OF CHOPPER BLADES.

THE HELI'S ON ITS WAY IN.

WE NEED TO MOVE
AND FIND THIS OPEN GROUND.

AND THE PLACE YOU'RE LEAST
LIKELY TO BE SPOTTED FROM

IS DOWN HERE
IN THE JUNGLE CANOPY.

YOU'VE GOT TO FIND A CLEARING.

COME ON. KEEP WITH ME.
KEEP WITH ME. COME ON.

AND FOR TROOPS
WAITING FOR A PICKUP,

THEIR MOST VULNERABLE POINT WAS
WHEN THE HELI ACTUALLY CAME IN.

AND THEIR JOB WAS TO STAY COVERT
FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE

AND THEN GO OVERT VERY, VERY
FAST WHEN THE HELI ARRIVED.

OKAY, LET'S GET A FIRE GOING.

ACTUALLY, THIS TREE
SHOULD BE GOOD.

IT'S WELL OUT IN THE CLEARING.

AND LOOK -- WE SET THE WHOLE
OF THIS THING ALIGHT,

IT'S GONNA BE VISIBLE FOR MILES.

A LARGE SIGNAL FIRE
WITH A DECENT PLUME OF SMOKE

CAN BE SEEN
UP TO 20 MILES AWAY.

WITH THE CHOPPER
GETTING CLOSE NOW,

THERE'S A GOOD CHANCE
THE PILOT WILL SPOT THIS.

[ HELICOPTER ROTOR WHIRRING ]

FOR A SOLDIER ON THE GROUND,

EVEN THE RAZOR-SHARP GRASS
AND DEBRIS

WHIPPED UP BY THE ROTORWASH

WOULDN'T DAMPEN THE JOY
OF A SUCCESSFUL HELI PICKUP.

THE JUNGLE'S A DANGEROUS PLACE,

BUT GETTING OUT OF THERE ALIVE

IS THE BEST FEELING
IN THE WORLD.