Sunday, November 24, 2024 The Laos government expressed profound sadness over the tragic deaths of tourists in Vang Vieng, a popular backpacker destination, following a night out. Six individuals—two from Denmark, two from Australia, an American, and a Briton—tragically lost their lives after falling ill following a night out in a small riverside town known for its appeal to backpackers. Tributes poured in on Saturday for Melbourne teenagers Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones, both 19, who were traveling together in Laos.
Bowles passed away at a hospital in Bangkok on Friday, just a day after her best friend Jones had succumbed to her illness. In memory of the young women, teammates adorned their community with blue and yellow ribbons, the colors of their sports club, as a show of support for the grieving families. Thai authorities revealed that Jones died from “brain swelling caused by high levels of methanol in her system.
” Both friends were rushed to the hospital after being found unwell in their accommodation at the Nana Backpacker Hostel. Vang Vieng, a town in central Laos surrounded by striking limestone cliffs, was once infamous as a wild party hotspot. It gained popularity for activities like “tubing,” where visitors floated down the Nam Song River on inner tubes, stopping at riverside bars along the way.
In 2012, a string of tourist deaths prompted authorities to impose strict regulations on the bars and temporarily suspend tubing activities. Since that time, .
