Inside the wild nights at packed bars where two Aussies were poisoned

Young travellers visiting the Vientiane Province of Laos do so with danger at the front of their minds. Now those risks have proved deadly.

It's the new must-go destination for those in the know - but also where two Melbourne teens died after being poisoned by methanol-laced drinks. 

Two other young Danes, a UK lawyer and a US man have also been killed in the tragic mass poisoning, with another eight still believed to be in hospital.

While the town of Vang Vieng has been a go-to spot for adventurers keen on tubing and kayaking on the Nam Song River, it has also become the place to be for those who like to party. 

Until 2012, the river itself was lined with bars selling Beer Lao and Lao-Lao, and equipped with rope swings, zip lines, and large decks for socialising. 

Other activities in the region include trekking and rock climbing in the limestone mountains. There are also numerous caves, such as Tham Phu Kham or the Tham Non and Tham Jang.

But in recent years, it has become a haven for young backpackers keen on getting high on life - and often Class A drugs - as quickly and as cheaply as possible. 

Veteran travellers ominously warn others to steer clear of the local alcohol, and stick to imported booze: 'Either you want to live - or you don't mind dying early.'

While Bali has long been the destination of choice for young Aussies, a recent spate of highly public incidents involving wayward partying there helped Laos cement its position as a party capital. 

The main street of Vang Vieng is lined with guest houses, bars, restaurants, internet cafes and tour agencies. 

Melbourne teenagers Holly Bowles and Bianca Jones, both aged 19, had been enjoying the trip of their young lives there when tragedy struck them down. 

Ms Jones died surrounded by loved ones on Thursday. Her best friend remains in critical condition on life support.

The pair had been staying at Nana Backpackers Hostel in Vang Vieng where they drank mixed spirits at the bar the night before. 

WhatsApp messages have since revealed that the pair then left the hostel and travelled 950m to the beachfront Jaidee Bar.

The infamous party bar, which offers free spirits, also has a hard copy 'drug menu', offering patrons opium, ecstasy and ketamine.

Situated within the 'Golden Triangle', the area is very hard for the Laotian government to police due to its remoteness, terrain, and a lack of international cooperation.

Corruption in Laos and neighbouring countries also serves to make enforcement of anti-drug production and trafficking laws difficult. 

Though Laos hasn't executed anyone since 1989, it still retains the death penalty in its laws and has about 315 people on death row. 

The high supply of drugs in the region sees methamphetamine pills sold for less than 25 cents, which is cheaper than food, water, or beer. 

Its lawless nature provides certain appeal to young Aussies raised on endless rules and regulations.  

Locals described Jaidee Bar as a 'dangerous' place with links to organised crime and the Asian mafia.

The hard copy menu reportedly offered there offers tourists hardcore drugs for the equivalent of about $28 a gram. 

Daily Mail Australia does not suggest that either Ms Bowles or Ms Jones were involved in any drug taking activity of any kind.

Testing revealed their ill health was caused by methanol poisoning.

While Laos once appealed to travellers for its peace and quiet, much has changed over the past decade with an influx of young party goers from across the globe. 

But all that could be about to change with the tragic deaths of six people, including two Danish women Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman, 20, and Freja Vennervald Sorensen, 21, American man James Louis Hutson, 57, and British woman Simone White, 28.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said drink spiking and methanol poisoning were far too common in many parts of the world and implored parents and young travellers to discuss the risks.

'Please inform yourselves, please let's work together to ensure this tragedy doesn't happen again,' she said.

On Thursday evening, Pearl Jam singer Eddie Vedder paid tribute to the teenagers at his show in Sydney, describing the situation as 'senseless'.

'The one young woman, Bianca Jones, she's passed. Her friend Holly Bowles is hanging in and wish her the best and we're thinking about her parents,' he said.

Methanol is an odourless, colourless liquid used in products such as paint stripper, insecticide and dyes.

The Australians were found unresponsive by staff at the Nana Backpacker Hostel where they were staying with a group of mates. 

Australian Embassy officials arrived at the hostel on Monday, with management quick to deflect any of the blame from its premises. 

The hostel’s manager reportedly claimed police came to inspect their bar after the incident but found the alcohol it served was 'very normal'.

An investigation into where those impacted by the poisoning partied that night remains in full swing. 

Initial reports suggested 'vodka' served up at a local establishment may have been the cause. 

But many claim it is usually the local jungle hooch 'moonshine' that is consumed with caution. 

The local rice alcohol is described as 'rocket fuel' which is notorious for getting people drunk quickly and on the cheap. 

Anyone who has spent time in the region says going there on a bargain basement budget is a recipe for disaster. 

'Doesn't matter what the price is. You purchase imported or you don't engage at all,' one person warned on a social media page focused on backpacking in the region. 

'Either you want to live - or you don't mind dying early.'

Many bars in the area jostling for punters offer free drinks in an effort to get tourists inside. 

The free drinks often flow for hours at a time, with many suspicious about how it can afford to be done. 

Some bars are known to serve up buckets of cheap booze to those game enough to chug it down. 

Unscrupulous bar owners are believed to sell their own concoctions disguised in Jagermeister or Absolut Vodka bottles.  

'It's insane. I've been here running bars clubs and parties since 2011 and this nonsense of giving out free drinks has been an ongoing battle,' one bar owner wrote. 

'Then when something like this happens, it ruins everyone's reputation but we all know the root cause of the problem.'

Another bar owner committed to contacting every alcohol supplier in the region in hope of weeding out whatever, or whoever, sparked the incident. 

Some familiar with the region doubt local police will ever get to the bottom of the cause. 

'The police work hand-in-hand with the bars in Vang Vieng that serve a wide range of dangerous drugs,' one claimed. 'Methanol is in all the drugs too. 

'It’s a big problem in Laos, [but] authorities have been known to arrest people when they’re leaving because of "defamation" to these businesses.'

A woman who claimed to have stayed at the hostel where the two Australians were found warned the entire region was swimming in dodgy booze. 

'I can confirm it’s the entire city, not just that hostel,' she said. 'I drank the free drinks (they don’t give shots). 

'The people went to another bar after leaving the hostel which if you know anything about that place ... It’s more than drinking.'