Bruno Pugh
The Vietnam War left political scars and battle wounds, but that wasn’t all. For many soldiers, the jungle held something else. Mysterious creatures and wartime monsters made even seasoned fighters question what they saw. Some stories faded, while others grew louder with time. These are the legends no one could shake, even after the war ended.
The Rock Apes Of The Central Highlands
Soldiers often noted that they weren’t gorillas. Many claimed these ‘Rock Apes’ walked upright and threw rocks with precision, a phenomenon reported by multiple units in Vietnam’s Central Highlands. These creatures—possibly misidentified primates—left no verified evidence, though the stories persist among those who encountered them.
The Batutut
Described as hairy, broad-shouldered, and shaped like a human, the Batutut is a creature rooted in Vietnamese folklore. Some soldiers have claimed sightings during wartime. In one unverified account, a unit reportedly saw two near a wild boar. The creatures stared directly at them before calmly walking away.
The Flying Humanoid Of Da Nang
In 1969, near Da Nang, a U.S. soldier named Earl Morrison claimed that, while on guard duty, he saw a winged humanoid figure approaching his post, which he initially mistook for a large bird. It was roughly 7 feet tall with a wide wingspan.
The Goat-Man Of Nui Ba Den
Nui Ba Den, a looming hill steeped in military history, sparked eerie stories among some soldiers. They spoke of a horned, upright creature seen moving along its ledges and lurking in caves. Though no proof has surfaced, some remain convinced that something was up there—watching quietly, waiting in the shadows.
The Jungle Howler
Some soldiers in Vietnam’s jungles reported an eerie sound at dawn—a deep, howling noise unlike a wolf or human, described by one as if it spoke his name. These unverified tales likely reflect the psychological strain of their situation rather than a real creature.
The Glowing Eyes In The Tunnel
In Vietnam’s dark tunnels, some soldiers claimed to see two steady, greenish, glowing eyes. Unlike rats’ eyes, they seemed fixed and calm. Theories ranged from bioluminescent fungus to something alive. With no official reports, these stories are possibly born from the tunnels’ oppressive conditions.
The Giant Centipedes Of The Ho Chi Minh Trail
Ordinary bugs aren’t over a foot long—or that fast. These moved with a purpose, like they were made for combat. Soldiers told of bites that sent men into feverish, hallucinatory states. One even tried to keep a specimen, but it shredded the bag and vanished. Whatever they were, they seemed born from the jungle itself—hostile, relentless, and entirely at home.
The Phantom Voices
Some soldiers swore they heard voices rising above the rustling leaves. Maybe it was just the wind—or maybe not. Some claim the voices called out names, trying to lure them deeper into the dark. They reportedly spoke in broken English, French, or Vietnamese. Those who heard them didn’t just feel fear—they felt hunted.
The Swamp Apes Of The Plain Of Reeds
According to some soldiers in the Plain of Reeds, they weren’t rock apes. These were smaller and wetter, with wide eyes and squat frames. They emerged from reeds to watch, and sometimes, they grunted. There are claims that one patrol vanished, but it’s possibly a wartime myth.
The Minnesota Iceman Encounter
In 1968, a peculiar exhibit toured the United States: the “Minnesota Iceman,” a purportedly frozen, hairy hominid measuring about 6 feet. Some stories alleged that American soldiers near Da Nang during the Vietnam War had discovered it. Primatologist John R. Napier concluded it was a hoax.