Image that symbolised Nepal's destruction is actually two Vietnamese children from 2007

Na-Son Nguyen took the image almost a decade ago in Vietnam and was surprised when he saw social media users sharing his photo

Nepalese children sit inside an Indian Air Force chopper after they were rescued from an earthquake-hit village (AFP)

The photographer of one of the most widely shared images from the Nepalese earthquake disaster has revealed the image was taken in 2007, in Vietnam.

Na-Son Nguyen, a freelance photographer based in Vietnam, has said that the image of a young boy and girl was taken eight years ago in Northern Vietnam.

Mr Na-Son, who has contributed to Associated Press photography, told the BBC that the image was taken in Can Ty, a remote village in Ha Giang province.

“I was passing through the village but was stopped by the scene of two Hmong children playing in front of their house while their parents were away working in the field.

“The little girl, probably two years old, cried in the presence of a stranger so the boy, who was maybe three years old or so, hugged his sister to comfort her.

"It was both moving and cute, so I quickly made a shot," he said.

After publishing the image on his private blog, Mr Na-Son was surprised to discover the photograph had been widely circulated among Vietnamese Facebook users, many of whom had attached a new story to the image.

Commenting on the veracity of photojournalism on his personal Instagram four weeks ago, Mr Na-Son wrote: “People believe them; but photographs do lie…”

“Pictures just tell half truth, and the photojournalists must bring back the other half.”

Despite the international reach of his image, Mr Na-Son has yet to have much success in claiming the copyright of the picture. He adds: "This is perhaps my most shared photo but unfortunately in the wrong context."