Vang Vieng: Backpacker heaven or hedonistic hell?

Thu, 03/01/2012 - 00:35 — Anonymous by Matthew BennettView over the Nam
Song River in Vang Vieng, Laos. Southeast Asia's newest party spot?Magic
mushroom shake? Opium pizza? Bucket of whiskey anyone?  Welcome to Vang
Vieng, former traditional farming village, now hot point of drugs, booze,
techno and partying and Laos' hottest backpacker haunt. The rise -- perhaps
that should be fall -- of this town sitting on the Nam Song River and
surrounded by beautiful karst scenery, has been dramatic, and its notoriety
has spread far. You are more likely to see topless tourists vomiting than you
are local culture and it has been written: "If teenagers ruled the world,
it might resemble Vang Vieng."  It has hit the headlines most dramatically
in recent months for the deaths of at least two Australian tourists while
tubing on its river.read more