2 hours ago Six people are dead after a suspected mass methanol poisoning at a backpacker party town. What went wrong in Laos?

As authorities detain a hostel owner in Vang Vieng, expert says the recent deaths are just the ‘tip of the iceberg’Vang Vieng is an unlikely party hub.Surrounded by striking limestone mountains and caves in central Laos, it morphed from a small farming town to a hedonistic party hub in the early 2000s. Enticed by boozy tubing experiences, throngs of twentysomething backpackers cemented its spot on south-east Asia’s famed backpacker trail. Continue reading...

Events

3 hours ago An idyllic paradise turned to tragedy: How the backpacking dream became a nightmare with six dead in Laos party town

A dark cloud now looms over the backpacking hotspot of Vang Vieng after Australian teenagers Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones and British lawyer Simone White died from suspected alcohol poisoning

Events

4 hours ago Family ‘devastated’ after British lawyer Simone White’s Laos methanol death

Ms White has been remembered as a ‘beautiful, kind and loving daughter’ who had the ‘most wonderful energy‘

Events

4 hours ago Methanol poisoning holiday hotspots exposed and grim way it attacks your body

Six backpackers staying in the popular tourist town of Vang Vieng in Laos have died after a suspected methanol poisoning, but it's not just countries in south-east Asia where tragic cases have been reported

Events

4 hours ago Family of 'loving' Brit lawyer Simone White killed in Laos 'Vodka' poisoning pay tribute

The parents of 28-year-old British lawyer Simone White, described her as 'beautiful, kind and loving', after she died from drinking suspected contaminated shots in Laos, along with five other tourists

Events

4 hours ago Simone White: Parents of London lawyer who died in suspected methanol poisoning in Laos pay tribute

The parents of British lawyer Simone White who died from suspected methanol poisoning in Laos have described her as a “beautiful, kind and loving daughter”.

Events

4 hours ago Parents pay emotional tribute to 'one of a kind' lawyer who died in suspected poisoning

Simone White allegedly consumed drinks containing methanol in the backpacker hotspot of Vang Vieng

Society

5 hours ago Parents of British lawyer who died after drinking 'methanol' shots in Laos pay tribute to their 'beautiful, kind and loving daughter' who was 'one of a kind'

Simone White, 28, from Orpington, Kent, is among six people who have died in connection with the tragedy in the popular backpacking town of Vang Vieng last week.

Society

5 hours ago Parents of 'poisoned' lawyer speak of 'devastation' after death in Laos

Simone White, 28, was one of a number of people taken to hospital after the incident in Laos

Society