Is Vang Vieng dangerous?

In 2014, almost 45,000 Australians travelled to Laos, and many flocked to Vang Vieng where the landscapes look enchanting, but there’s danger lurking among the mountains. Melbourne teen Daniel Eimutis died in January 2012 after he went missing while he was tubing with mates in Vang Vieng.

What happened to Vang Vieng’s Xong River?

The ABC reports they both died from overdoses and likely took the same batch of drugs. The death toll was getting so bad, seven bars along the popular Xong River, which flows through Vang Vieng, were shut down in 2012. Authorities found drinks given to tourists were laced with opium and hallucinogenic mushrooms.

Is it safe to travel from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang?

“Since March 2016, there have been a number of shooting incidents directed at tourist buses travelling on routes 13 and 4 between Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang,” the warning said. “We now advise you to reconsider your need to travel by road on these routes.