Laos to File Charges Friday Against Hostel Operators in Deaths of Six Tourists

Laotian authorities are expected to file charges on Friday against individuals connected to the deaths of six foreign tourists from methanol poisoning at the Nana Backpacker Hostel in Vang Vieng. The victims were two 19-year-old Australian women, Bianca Jones and Holly Morton-Bowles, an American man, a British woman and two Danish women.

Jones and Morton-Bowles consumed free shots of Laotian vodka at the hostel before becoming ill in their room.

They were evacuated to hospitals in Thailand, where they died. The charges carry a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a fine of approximately 1,600 Australian dollars. Ten people connected to the hostel were charged earlier this year with destroying evidence and received suspended sentences along with fines of $185 each.

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong stated on July 17, 2026, that she was deeply frustrated and bitterly disappointed that authorities were not pursuing the most serious charges. The Australian Foreign Ministry said the news would add to the immense pain and grief suffered by the families and friends of Holly and Bianca.

Mark Jones, Bianca Jones’s father, stated that the penalties fall far short of what the families consider appropriate.

Shaun Bowles, Holly Morton-Bowles’s father, stated that the anticipated charges were mind-boggling given Laos’s status as a popular destination for young travelers. Wong’s office did not immediately provide details on the exact number of people expected to be charged. The Laos Embassy in Canberra did not respond to a request for comment.