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A father and son have been discovered in the Vietnam jungle 40 years after they vanished during the war with the United States.

Ho Van Thanh fled from Tra Kem village in shock with two-year-old Ho Van Lang after a mine exploded killing his wife and two other sons.

Thanh made a den in the trees and survived by foraging for fruit and vegetables and growing corn.

He and his son have not had contact with anyone since.

Villagers chopping firewood raised the alarm after spotting two “jungle men” behaving oddly.

Thanh, 82, and 41-year-old Lang, who wore loincloths made out of tree bark, were found after a five-hour search.

They are now having full medical check-ups.

Officials in Quang Ngai province said Thanh speaks a small amount of the minority Cor language but his son knows only odd words.

Attempts will now be made to slowly reintegrate them.