Laos government ‘deeply saddened’ by tourists’ deaths from suspected methanol poisoning

Vang Vieng has been a fixture on the Southeast Asian tourist trail since Laos’ communist rulers opened the country to tourism decades ago.

The town was once synonymous with tourists behaving badly at jungle parties, but has since rebranded itself as an ecotourism destination.

The Vietnamese manager of the Nana Backpackers hostel was detained for questioning, Laos tourist police told AFP. However, no charges were brought.

Police in Laos could not be reached for comment on Saturday.

The deaths are suspected to be caused by alcohol contaminated with methanol, a toxic alcohol typically used in industrial and household products such as antifreeze.

It can be added to alcohol to increase its strength, but it can cause blindness, liver damage and death.

In the week after the incident, Danish, Australian and British officials issued statements confirming the deaths of their citizens.

On their travel advisory websites, UK and Australian authorities are warning their citizens to beware of methanol poisoning when drinking alcohol in Laos.

But in Vang Vieng, things seemed to be going on as usual.

“I heard the news, but everything is fine here,” Michael, manager of Vangvieng Rock Backpacker Rooftop Hostel, told AFP on Friday, asking to use only one name.

“The season will start soon, so we are receiving more and more tourists every day.”

“There are still a lot of tourists in the city partying,” a receptionist at the Vang Vieng Chill House hostel told AFP.