A small town known as a backpacker’s paradise in northern Laos has come under the spotlight over a mass poisoning case that killed at least six tourists and injured dozens of others.

The Lao government on Saturday officially acknowledged the case and promised to bring the perpetrators to justice.

News broke earlier this week that two Australian teenagers had fallen seriously ill after a night out drinking in the town of Vang Vieng. They died in Thai hospitals, with one confirmed case of methanol poisoning. The death of a British woman was also confirmed. An American and two Danes also died, although the exact causes of their deaths have not been revealed. A New Zealand citizen has contracted the disease.

Since then, many tourists have become concerned because it is unclear how many have been affected, said Neil Farmelo, a New Zealander who owns a restaurant in the town.

The incident sparked dark memories of the town that was once known for reckless parties involving young backpackers. But despite the tragedy, the town, especially at night, was packed with visitors in its main neighborhood filled with bars, restaurants and food stalls. During the day, many kayaks were floating along the river, and tourists were screaming and splashing water on each other.

Frida Svedberg left Sweden five weeks ago on her big trip to Southeast Asia with no firm return plan. She said she heard the news just before arriving in Laos, and was bombarded with messages from concerned family members and friends.

She’s still going ahead with her original plan to spend three nights in the city. I found it as beautiful as I expected.

“Obviously it’s like a popular backpacker place. You go from Thailand to Luang Prabang and then to Vang Vieng and then you keep going. I’ve just heard good things about it and it’s where most people go,” the 24-year-old said.

Landlocked Laos, a one-party communist state, is one of Southeast Asia’s poorest countries and a popular tourist destination, especially Vang Vieng.

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In 2005-2006, the town began to become popular among European backpackers, who were drawn to the tranquil nature and activities such as river tubing, where tourists sit on the beach, said Sout Jai Zhivankhon, who has run Sout Jai Guesthouse in Vang Vieng for 17 years. You can tube and float along the Nam Song River, stopping to party at the many different bars along its banks.

It can become filled with cheap liquor, illegal drugs and river sports that sometimes turn deadly. People drowned or suffered fatal blows after jumping into the river on a rope swing. In 2011, the town recorded 27 deaths linked to river activities, forcing the government to intervene in regulations.

Next, Farmelo said Vang Vieng receives more eclectic groups of tourists who enjoy a wider range of activities besides the nightlife. There are still a lot of young Western travelers, but the city is also visited by many Chinese and South Koreans.

Tourism agencies dotted along the main streets advertise a range of packages offering the clear turquoise waters of the Blue Lagoon, serene mountaintop views and many different caves. Those who are more adventurous try kayaking, zip lining, paragliding or hot air ballooning. The tubes are still there, but with far fewer riverside pubs to visit than in the past.

The state-owned Laos News Agency quoted the region’s governor as saying earlier this year that Vang Vieng received more than 600,000 tourists in 2023 and was expected to see more this year.

But with the recent deaths among tourists, guesthouse owner Sutjay is a little worried.

“It’s about tourists and tourist confidence. It’s been news all over the world. There will definitely be an impact.”

Swedish tourist Anton Honkanen said that what happened affected his experience.

“I think this ruins the value of the backpack a little bit. Because everyone is having fun this time. Maybe you will meet some new people at the hostel, have some drinks with all kinds of people from all over the world. Now I won’t do that today because of the poisoning.”

However, Svedberg said what happened was unfortunate and should not stop people from coming. “Things can happen anywhere and everywhere. So I think it shouldn’t affect tourism. Just be careful.”

The Nana Backpacker Hostel, where the two Australian teens stayed, closed its gate on Saturday. He has not been allowed to receive new guests since early this week and was accommodating the remaining visitors until Friday. Its manager and owner, both Vietnamese, were detained for questioning by Lao police.

Methanol is sometimes added to mixed drinks in disreputable bars as a cheaper alternative to ethanol, but it can cause severe poisoning or death. It is also a by-product of poorly distilled home-made liquor, and may have unwittingly found its way into bar drinks.

& Edition 2024 The Canadian Press