Inside the Laos party town where backpackers die | The Story

[@jimgraham6722]

Don't drink cocktails or unsealed spirits in these places. There is a huge pressure on the bartenders to short the bottles and top them up with dodgy stuff. If you must drink, beer in sealed bottles and cans is probably fairly safe.

[@ChicaG-vg7pj]

Even 'sealed' bottles can be tampered with. We used to live in W. Africa. Our friend brought over a bottle that appeared to be sealed, from a supposedly reputable source. The men had a double each, and started throwing up. My husband also got a blinding headache. Perhaps it was fortunate that they got ill so quickly, as they stopped after the first drink. I would say stick to cans that you open yourself, if possible.

[@navajo6931]

The hotel owner he is Vietnamese live in Laos In VN alcohols homemade everywhere in my community die every year but poeple still drinking those alcohol really cheap

[@lobstereleven4610]

As someone from Asia, the lack of self preservation instincts of these westerners always surprised me. I used to be amazed at the naïveté and frankly foolishness of these young people traveling carefree to places even the locals know not to go. So used to living in a safe society that they think everywhere else is just as safe as home. I feel bad for these kids but let this be a lesson to all the young westerners out there. 🙏

[@katuiran]

What are you talking about? This can happen anywhere. A bar giving free shots. Who wouldn't take it. Other Asian countries do this as well it just so happened that the Laos Hostel apparently had a bad batch.

[@KristinaUSA-x5n]

It sounds like they were targeted.

[@KristinaUSA-x5n]

@ Targeting my family and friends like they did me.

[@42VS42]

Not all Westerners. Laos probably has the same health and consumer protection standards as Florida.

[@bec5250]

You know, you could always improve regulations and laws in Asia so that it wasn't a place where tourists bringing their tourist dollar to your country ended up dead from buying a drink. You could turn it into a place where trust could flourish. But no.

[@pmull252]

I am just back from laos. I was staying at Nana's when this happened. I honestly don't think it's Nana's that is to blame. As the guy mentioned, the bar with the drug menu, they have incredibly dodgy drinks that tasted horrendous. I couldn't finish mine and left.

[@konanninja]

Yes... I've been to Vang Vieng. It is a really really beautiful place, close to the nature. So sad this bring bad name to the town but I would go back there again if I have a chance anyway.

[@pmull252]

@konanninja Absolutely, I agree. I was posting photos and videos on social media stating that it's the most beautiful place I've ever seen. The people were great too. It's just so tragic that this has happened. Of course, it's very disturbing, the fact that I was staying at Nanas when all 6 died:( Unreal

[@robinbanks610]

So incredibly sad😢. Free alcohol🤔. Personally I’d seriously question that to the point I wouldn’t touch it especially knowing it “may” be methanol. An old saying “there’s no such thing as a free lunch.”

[@heekyungkim8147]

This is a such a tragic… so sorry these people had to die this way…

[@amandaphimmasone6418]

I apologize for her parents 😔,she's young and beautiful,and she has the right to decide whether or not to consume alcohol, but it's worth noting that alcohol can be harmful to her 😓😓 16:16

[@Tgspartnership]

Flying round the world for cheap drinks.

[@gerryhouska2859]

How many times have I said "I'm dying for a drink". Didn't mean it literally.

[@blureader1164]

I'm sure that if I were in Melbourne, I would be able to find drugs and drunks there too. Young people are always looking for a good time, even a home. You do not expect to be served fake liquor.

[@angelicamimosa]

Hopefully this will make a change and places like Laos try to attract less hedonistic, superficial, cheap tourists and tourism! Such amazing culturally important places should not become just cheap druggy alcoholic party places! Maybe this will change the trend for a better future for locals and more sustainable style of tourism that includes respect for the locals and their culture.

[@nottooherbal]

I remember seeing huge black swirling clouds of bats there, emerging from their caves in huge jagged, canine tooth like mountains, presumably to feed on insects at night. Also bars or places where young people could lounge around watching non stop Friends episodes . I was shocked at one point, lying in the burning sun to suddenly realise I was staring at a huge vivid green scary looking praying mantis on the trunk of a tree by the river . I tried to make a little joke asking an American Chinese girl who had been floating down the river in an inner tube how tyred she was afterwords only to glared at angrily .

[@Tgspartnership]

Nice

[@veganbutcherhackepeter]

What? I think you've had too much methanol yourself. Your brain has turned into a mush.

[@joanwee2641]

Greetings from Malaysia, So sad to see all this young girls dying so terribly, I hope that the bartender who serve the drinks to all this young people who died will be serve with life imprisonment. Harsh sentences will deter more deaths. Also there have been countless news about about people spiking drinks all over the world. I hope that all this teenagers travelling overseas will be more wary of people offering free drinks. Who knows what is inside the drink. Why risk your life over a drink.

[@LimHoochin]

I was there for 3 nights. I don't drink or do drugs. Life is actually very simple . Look for trouble , things may happen.

[@Lily-cm3nj]

I'll never understand why people, obviously irresponsible ,reckless young people or mostly anyway, travel to party and do drugs as opposed to enjoying and appreciating the culture, food, beauty and history of the countries where they travel???

[@robertcarroll9409]

Such a sad story.

[@VoiceOfThe]

The blame here lies with the failure of tourist boards and the foreign office advice in not publicising the apparent risk to tourists in this part of the world. They are very much aware there’s a problem with this throughout south-east Asian countries, yet the tourists going there are not being made aware of these risks.

[@marcusjackson9076]

Been to Laos, not Vang Vieng but overall it's a wonderful country. Wouldn't go near Moonshine there, stick to the local beer. Beer Lao is great and has other varieties. All I was on while there.

[@bec5250]

Mostly blond women - and one American bloke. I bet you any money someone at the bar was targeting people.

[@xgtwb6473]

Honestly our people don't realise how much they despise us. Imagine seeing a blonde person with blue eyes .. haters 😂

[@veganbutcherhackepeter]

What a tool you are. Unbelievable.

[@LimHoochin]

Ask yourself - why almost all girls died n only 1 57 yo man . I m 100% sure many young men drank too. So is it a conspiracy theory?

[@wallstreet_au]

maybe the owner was anti-feminist?!?! if that be the case, feminism caused these deaths.

[@manpreetbrar838]

Desi Daroo and Desi Food is difficult to digest without proper conditioning.

[@taimuongtean]

Laos government is like a rabbit eyeing the big carrot and got stagnated into oblivion...not realizing it's losing its home indefinitely

[@LindenButters]

Who woud choose that dreadful tip?

[@joanwee2641]

Greetings from Malaysia, Why take a risk with your life for free achoholic drink from dubious people and people you never met before. If want to drink, better to buy your own liqueur from duty free airports. In this world, there are no free lunches. (Drinks)

[@thomasbarchen]

Vang Vieng I got dysentery there.

[@Andrew-PoTate-O]

Is it just me or did anyone else want to know more about this river and what happened on it. It felt like he wanted to share the story but the interviewer kept changing the subject.

[@Lifeintheslowlane16547]

Well I can tell you more about it as I lived there from 2007-2014.It is called the Nam Song, and it can flood Vang Vieng some years. In 2011 two dozen tourist died in it, due to the mix of free alcohol (Lao Lao) and dangerous zip lines ad slides.

[@Andrew-PoTate-O]

@Lifeintheslowlane16547 is there not any poisonous snakes or nasty fanged fish in that river aswell?

[@Lifeintheslowlane16547]

@@Andrew-PoTate-O The local can be found in all the rivers in Lao fishing or just having fun. So the simple answer to your question is no.

[@Andrew-PoTate-O]

@@Lifeintheslowlane16547 I'm surprised. Usually everything wants to eat everything in Asia.

[@LimHoochin]

It could b foul play.

[@LimHoochin]

Or the quantum of mixture is totally out.

[@harrparr8988]

I enjoyed these interviews, but it wasn't really a story.

[@ScottArmstrong-q1v]

A very true and honest and real report. Much better than the BBC

[@bikeyoshiro]

the hostel staffers from Vietnam seems to have been investigated by authorities. I guess that locals don’t welcome some tourists who are carefree and ignorant of the local culture and practices.

[@wallstreet_au]

I knew not to drink mixed cocktails in south east asia for decades now. travelled through the region with no problem........bought alcohol only from bottles. these dead travelers were not smart enough...sad but true

[@reddog6256]

Paradise? More like a slump to me.

[@janheffernan4792]

Girls did not look after themselfs didn't know what thay were doing

[@ValCoombe]

he ladies are soo beaifl b allblonde is a radgedy no good enogh hey all blone really sad sholdn haen

[@russellharvey698]

Stupidity knows no bounds.. generations get dumber