Man vs. Wild: Bamboo-zled! Quiz

Bamboo is not only one of the strongest plants on the planet, but its tensile strength rivals that of steel.

More than 30 of Vietnam’s 140 snake species are poisonous. Every year, some 30,000 people are bitten by snakes in Vietnam and many of them die as a result. You’d best watch where you put your hands and feet as you fight your way through the jungle.

"Green chicken" refers to frogs, which are frequently served on the menu in Vietnam. Frogs are generally safe to eat as long as they’re not brightly colored. (Toads are a big no-no, since they are poisonous.)

Vietnam is riddled with undetonated explosives, thanks to three decades of warfare. The cities, other cultivated areas, and established roads and pathways have been de-mined and are safe for travel, but that does not apply to the jungle. Since 1975, more than 40,000 Vietnamese have been maimed or killed by leftover ordnance, so don’t pick up anything that looks like it could blow up.

To maximize your chances of catching a catfish, for example, your sharpened bamboo spear should sport eight prongs – that’s right, eight. Split the head of the spear into eight prongs, sharpen each, and then get a small piece of bamboo to wedge down in the middle of the prongs. The wedge will splay the prongs, thus increasing your likelihood of catching that sushi.

Vietnam’s weather is dictated by its monsoon seasons. From October to March, the winter monsoon brings damp, chilly weather to the northern part of the country and dry, warmer weather to the south. From April to October, the summer monsoon brings hot, humid weather to the entire country, except for areas sheltered by the mountains. A poncho sure would be nice …

Catfish are found in fresh water around the world and all species are edible. In fact, Vietnam is home to the giant catfish, which is the largest of all catfish – a single fish can weight over 600 pounds. This is good news for you, if you don’t mind sushi.

After prepping your campsite, you should sleep on a makeshift platform. Building a bamboo-based sleeping platform is the safest kind of shelter in the jungle. Find a group of four trees, or cut four large bamboo poles and drive them firmly into the ground to form a rectangle 3 to 4 feet above the ground. Make sure any branches you cut are strong enough to hold your weight! Cut two poles to serve as the long sides of the rectangle and secure them to the trees or poles with vines. Then lash together enough bamboo, using vines as rope, to span the width of the side poles. Sleep tight and don’t let the bedbugs bite

One of the most likely routes out of Vietnam’s jungles is to find a river and follow it. Either will eventually lead to people, and the best way to find a stream or river is to head downhill. Careful as you go, however: Thick jungle vegetation obscures obstacles such as dangerous cliffs that could result in a deadly fall.

A good way of finding water in the jungle is from bamboo. Bamboo stalks grow in segments, and some of the cells are full of water. If you tap the bamboo, some of the stalks sound hollow. Others sound duller and denser, which can indicate water. Break or cut into the stalk and sip to your heart’s content.