Your comment reminded me of the Great Hanoi Rat Massacre (I won't spoil the punchline):
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/hanoi-rat-massacre-190...
Your comment reminded me of the Great Hanoi Rat Massacre (I won't spoil the punchline):
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/hanoi-rat-massacre-190...
I've heard exactly the same story about snakes, but that took place in British India.
Probably that (the one I heard) derived from this one.