Dark side of the Laos backpacker trail: Drug-fueled hedonism in a Communist backwater where drugs are sold at restaurants and 27 party-seeking tourists died in a year

For decades it was seen as Thailand's smaller, sleepier - and safer - neighbour. Tourists kayaking in the party town of Vang Vieng in Laos where five people have died from alleged methanol poisoning Methanol poisoning victims, Bianca Jones, who has sadly died, and her friend Holly Bowles, who is fighting for her life in hospital, were seen at Jaidee's Bar in Vang Vieng just hours before being rushed to hospital Bianca Jones, 19, from Melbourne, sadly died after consuming alleged 'methanol-laced' drinks in Vang Vieng, Laos The combination of cheap alcohol, a party atmosphere and river games proved wildly popular on the so-called Banana Pancake Trail, a well-trodden path around South East Asia for budget travellers. Vang Vieng - a four-hour bus journey from Laos' capital Vientiane - became so popular that at one stage backpackers outnumbered locals by around three to one. WhatsApp messages have since disclosed the pair then left the hostel and travelled 950m to the beachfront bar Ms Bowles was on holiday with her schoolfriend in the popular backpacking destination of Vang Vieng Simone White, 28, from Orpington in Kent, is the fifth tourist to have died after falling ill last week Mr Light was said to have stayed underwater 'for some time' before crawling back up the riverbank. Another hidden danger dates back to the Vietnam War, when the US used air bases in Laos, including in Vang Vieng, and bombed suspected supply lines in the south.