While the full circumstances of those deaths remain unclear, the link to suspected methanol poisoning has thrust Laos and its vital tourism industry into the spotlight — and revived memories of Vang Vieng’s sometimes dark recent past.
Known for its stunning karst scenery and relaxed atmosphere, the Song River town is an idyllic stopping point for travelers between the capital Vientiane and the UNESCO World Heritage city of Luang Prabang.
“Discovered” by well-heeled Western travelers in the late 1990s, the town quickly developed from a farming community into a hub of hedonistic entertainment.
But the party went sour when a series of fatal accidents linked to poor safety standards and a culture of excess along the river made international headlines, forcing local authorities to step in.
In the early to mid-2000s, Vang Vieng gained a notorious reputation on Southeast Asia’s “banana pancake” circuit for its wild parties and river tubing culture, along with the widespread availability of cheap alcohol and illicit drugs.
Laos has tried to rebrand Vang Vieng as less of a party destination.
In 2012, the government closed down many cheap bars that catered to backpackers and turned to making adventure travel and eco-tourism increasingly popular.
Vang Vieng and its mountainous surroundings are a base for outdoor activities, including kayaking, jungle trekking, parasailing, tubing and rock climbing.
In recent years, the city has become popular with more tourists, especially families and tour groups from South Korea and neighboring China.
But now Vang Vieng’s drinking culture is back in the news.
As reports of tourist deaths emerged in recent days, New Zealand, Australia, the UK, Canada and the US issued statements urging their citizens to be cautious about consuming alcohol in Laos.
“(We are aware of) a number of suspected cases of methanol poisoning in Vang Vieng, possibly through the consumption of methanol-laced alcoholic beverages,” the US Embassy in Vientiane said in a health alert on Friday.
“Please be aware of the potential risk of methanol poisoning, especially when consuming alcohol-based beverages.”
The warning also advises travelers in Laos to “purchase alcoholic beverages and beverages from authorized liquor stores, bars and hotels,” not to drink any domestic alcoholic beverages, and to check bottles for signs of tampering or mislabeling.
The warning came after the US State Department confirmed to CNN that an American citizen had died in Vang Vieng.
No reason was given for the person’s death, but it said the US was “closely monitoring the situation and providing consular assistance”.
Tourism is a key source of income for Laos, a landlocked country of about 7 million people that is one of the poorest countries in Southeast Asia and lags behind neighbors Vietnam and Thailand in attracting visitors.
According to the Lao government, 2.6 million international tourists visited Laos in 2024.
The top three groups of visitors are Thai, Vietnamese and Chinese, with “other significant sources” of inbound visitors from France, the UK, Russia, Japan and the US.
This year, the “Laos Year 2024” initiative was launched with the goal of bringing 4.6 million tourists and generating 712 million dollars.