Vang Vieng, Laos – The streets of Vang Vieng were quieter than usual as a global investigation into backpacker hotspots followed the deaths of six foreign tourists from suspected methanol poisoning.
Across the street from Nana Backpackers Hostel, where all six victims stayed before falling ill, a local tuk-tuk driver sits in his vehicle, smoking a cigarette and chatting with his young son.
“I don’t know much about this story. “I only saw it on Facebook.” The tuk-tuk driver spoke on condition of anonymity.
“I come here often to transport tourists. This hotel only has foreigners, usually no Asians. They party every Friday night until Saturday morning.”
But on a recent Saturday morning there are few tourists.
The door to Nana Backpackers Hostel is closed but not locked. There was no police presence and no notice that it was closed for business.
The driver said he was worried about his 10-year-old son, who is growing up as a teenager in Vang Vieng. He wants both locals and tourists to be safe.
“I haven’t noticed a big change in my business yet, but the area is definitely quieter now and there aren’t as many tourists who need transportation,” he says.
Two Australians, a British citizen, two Danes and an American have died in what is believed to be poisoning with methanol, an industrial chemical often used in bootleg alcohol.
According to news reports, the victims were found unconscious at Nana Backpackers Hostel after visiting the nearby Jaidee Bar.
Laotian authorities have not confirmed this, but the hostel manager has reportedly been detained by police.
While the investigation continues, Laotian authorities have provided few details about the case. The embassies of Denmark, Australia, Britain and the United States declined to comment.
Foreign backpackers in the village continue to come and go, some appearing more concerned about the risks than others.
“We heard what happened. “We are not that worried,” said a Spanish tourist in his 20s.
Alice Anastasi, a 23-year-old Australian tourist, says hostels are being “more careful” about guests, parties and selling alcohol.
Some owners of local businesses are reflecting the need for a better balance between revenue-generating tourism and safety.
“This is the first time I’ve seen something like this happen in Vang Vieng,” said a local travel agency operator who requested anonymity.
“So many people have been affected this way. “Usually a lot of people get drunk in bars, but that has never happened.”
The spread of contaminated alcohol in tourist destinations in Southeast Asia, including Vang Vieng, has been blamed on economic pressure and weak regulations.
Some local producers use methanol instead of ethanol because it is cheaper and can be used to make drinks stronger or improve low-quality alcohol.
Southeast Asia has the highest incidence of methanol poisoning globally, with the highest number of cases reported in Indonesia, with Cambodia, Vietnam and the Philippines also affected.
Some tourism industry officials said the deaths exposed the dangerous motivation behind backpacker-oriented tourism in Vang Vieng.
A local man who organizes outdoor activities for backpackers says the business model of providing cheap alcohol to budget-conscious tourists promotes unsafe cost-cutting practices such as the use of methanol.
“Some tourists think this way. [the alcohol] It’s not strong enough and I’m asking for something more,” he said, requesting anonymity.
“It’s no secret,” he says of bars offering cheap drink promotions.
The poisoning had an immediate impact on Vang Vieng’s tourism industry, a key driver of the local economy, local residents said.
“We definitely saw a change in the business after the incident. “There were a lot of customers at Nana Hostel,” said a travel agency official.
“There used to be a lot of people coming to buy tour packages that included hot air balloons or tubing, but now there aren’t that many at all.”
Vang Vieng’s reputation as a party destination has been a subject of tension for years.
The town, about 130km from the capital Vientiane, has been trying to shed its reputation for dangerous behavior since 27 people drowned while tubing in the Nam Song River in 2011.
In recent years, local authorities have tried to attract more upscale tourists by placing greater emphasis on four- and five-star hotels and specially designated entertainment areas away from the city centre.
With international attention focused on the city following recent tragedies, authorities are under pressure to take decisive action.
“I looked at every international news site that wrote about it. This causes suffering in this city,” says the travel agency.
Nonetheless, he remains optimistic about Vang Vieng’s future as a tourist destination.
“I still think it is very safe for tourists to come to enjoy nature, not alcohol or illegal drugs. Vang Vieng is still safe, but when you go to bars, be careful not to try something you’ve never tried before.”
Although international media has covered the story extensively, many locals who rely on Facebook for news are unaware of what happened.
“There’s no fear here, it’s safe,” says a fruit vendor a few meters down the road from Nana Hostel.
“Yes, foreigners often come here to drink or take drugs. However, most people who come to this market are Laotians. “He’s not really a foreigner,” the woman said.
According to government statistics, the number of visitors to Vang Vieng this year increased by 35% compared to 2023.
The surge is part of a larger trend.
Tourism is booming across Laos and is helping to fuel robust economic growth, which is expected to reach 4.2% in 2024 and 4.5% in 2025.
Nearby Luang Prabang has already attracted about 1.7 million visitors this year, generating about $220 million for the local economy, according to government statistics.
The government approved 1,374 domestic and foreign investment projects worth more than $2.36 billion in the first nine months of 2023, with the services sector, including tourism, accounting for 42% of this investment.
Despite this progress, the country’s economy continues to face serious challenges.
Inflation is around 25% and national debt is equivalent to around 75% of gross domestic product (GDP).
Recent projections show external debt repayments have nearly doubled to $950 million, with about half owed to China for various infrastructure projects, including the Laos-China railway.
A French bar owner who has lived in Vang Vieng for more than 20 years believes international attention gives authorities “good reason” to accelerate plans to change the city’s image.
The $2-$4 guesthouses that once dominated the area are increasingly giving way to upscale hotels, and more and more visitors are looking to enjoy nature rather than party.
“They are trying to phase out this image,” the bar owner said, explaining how the city is welcoming investors building four- and five-star hotels.
The latest tragedy coincides with a 15-month renovation plan to improve Vang Vieng’s infrastructure and image.
It was originally scheduled to begin in November but was recently postponed until after the national holiday on December 2nd.
The plan includes $15 million in funding to improve 8.5 km (5 miles) of roads, build 15 new bridges and improve the drainage system.
“Yes, progress is slow, but this crisis will transform Vang Vieng into a more upscale and regulated tourist destination,” says the bar owner.
