Young travellers party hard on the banks of Vang Vieng's popular tubing spot. Photo by Elizabeth Anile.
- Six people dead this year
- Tubing popular with backpackers
- A blow to local economy
Take a few hundred backpackers, sprinkle copious amounts of drugs and alcohol and mix in a country with no safety regulations, and you get a simmering pot of hedonism with no boundaries and deadly consequences.
But it wasn’t always like this in Vang Vieng.
Locals say ‘tubing’ started in 1999 when the owner of an organic farm rewarded his workers by allowing them to float down the river in large, rubber tyre tubes.
And as the word-of-mouth story goes, more and more people caught on, bars were built, and before long tubing was the main drawcard to this picturesque, rural town.
But as Vang Vieng’s notoriety grew, so did the arrival of backpackers from every corner of the globe, transforming it into one of the must-do-before-you-die backpacker destinations.
The deaths of six people this year, including three Australians, prompted calls from the around the world to shut tubing down once and for all, before any more lives are lost.
Tubing bars shut down
Laotian authorities listened.
The Vientiane Times reports 24 bars along the bank were shut down on August 31.
Thai born Jeerapong Prathomsup lived in Vang Vieng for two years from 2009 while managing the Spicy Laos hostel.
While he understands the authorities had to take action eventually, he is worried such a kneejerk reaction will hit the local economy hard.
“Shutting down all the bars on the rivers is serious action from the authorities and it came as a big shock and surprise for many local businesses and tourists,” he says.
Prathomsup would like to see tubing reopened, but only if it’s made safer for all involved.
“They should try to reduce dangerous activities and take control of alcohol and drug consumption during tubing instead. Life guards or patrol might make it safe and still a fun place to be,” he says.
Kirsty Clark from Melbourne, 22, agrees there is “no doubt tubing should continue” if reforms are implemented.
Clark travelled to Vang Vieng in 2011 with friends and while it was “one of the best experiences” of her life, she admits it was out of hand.
She remembers watching drunk, young men back flipping off 10 metre platforms and giant rope swings.
“At the moment it’s incredibly dangerous. It was definitely going to be cracked down on sooner or later, there’s no safety to it. No one is being monitored and your only look-out is your friend who is the least drunk.”
The future of Vang Vieng, which relies so heavily on tourism, now lies in the hands of authorities.
Travellers on various travel forums claim the decision to reopen the river bars in November is being explored, but authorities are yet to confirm these plans.
There’s no doubt local businesses forged out of the popularity of tubing will be affected, but to what extent will become apparent over time.
