‘Do not go’: Backpackers tried to warn of Laos tragedy

Reviews warning travellers away from a hostel at the centre of a deadly string of methanol poisonings in Laos were seemingly deleted after being labelled “slander” by staff.

Police have detained eight employees of Nana Backpacker Hostel in Vang Vieng for questioning as investigations into how six people died after drinking tainted alcohol continue.

Five of those six people – including Melbourne teens Bianca Jones and Holley Bowles – stayed at the hostel before their deaths.

The ABC has now reported other backpackers began posting online reviews claiming they or people they knew had fallen ill after drinking free alcohol at the hostel bar.

These reviews, which have since been deleted, were posted before news broke of the first death was made public.

“Do not go here!! They have methanol in their drinks and me and 3 others have been hospitalised because of this,” one person wrote, according to the ABC.

Another backpacker claimed they stayed at the hostel for five days: “Myself and friends were sick from consuming the free vodka here.

“People we know were taken to hospital, some even in intensive care with serious problems.

“The ones in hospital have all had traces of methanol in their bloodstream which is incredibly dangerous.

“The only event that connects all the different people is drinking at this hostel.”

Screenshots of these Google reviews show a representative from the Nana Backpacker Hostel replying “this is a slander case” and urging the reviewer to “contact us”.

“Our hostel has been operating for five years, and during this time, we have always prioritised the safety and well-being of our guests,” it reads.

“We take any claims like this very seriously.”

No charges have been laid over the deaths of the six foreign travellers, and the backpackers remains closed.

The hostel’s owner has repeatedly denied the toxic drinks came from his venue in public comments to international media outlets.

A bartender at the hostel bar also drank a vodka served there in front of media cameras in an attempt to prove it was not tainted.

Some negative reviews that do remain, posted several years ago, complain of loud music until the early hours and bed bugs in the rooms.

“Place was dirty and rooms weren’t up to standards for the price,” one person wrote.

“You can see spare mattresses just sitting around on balconies.”

Another person said Nana was a “super dodgy hostel, best to stay away”.

“Rooms are dark and uncomfortable,” he wrote.

Australian Harry Ough told the ABC he “had no clue” people who stayed at the hostel had died when he checked in on November 15.

That was two days after American James Louis Huston, 57, was found dead in his room, and Ms Bowles and Ms Jones were taken to hospital.

The other victims of the suspected poisoning include Danish women Anne-Sofie Orkild Coyman, 20, and Freja Vennervald Sorensen, 21, and British woman Simone White, 28.

Best friends Ms Jones and Ms Bowles, both 19, travelled to the small town 130km north of Vientiane earlier this month during a “trip of a lifetime”.

It’s believed the Melburnians drank the deadly drinks while on a night out on November 11.

“This was meant to be a trip full of lifelong memories, and was to be the first of many,” Bianca’s dad Mark Jones said.

“Bianca wanted to explore the world, meet new friends, lead and create change for good.”

Mr Jones urged the Laos government to investigate the incident “to the fullest extent”.

“We can’t have the passing of our daughter … not lead to change to protect others.”

The Guardian reported this week that a third Australian – a dual national – had fallen sick and was in a stable condition.