‘Every parent’s worst nightmare’: Five real risks facing backpackers in South East Asia
The tragic death of a British tourist in Laos has cast a spotlight on the region’s problem with methanol poisoning, but also serves as a stark reminder – for both parents and backpackers – of the wider dangers of visiting this region.
This week, British lawyer Simone White, 28, died in Laos after a suspected case of methanol poisoning. At least five others have died, including two 19-year old Australian nationals, an American man and two Danish nationals.
Anthony Albanese, the Australian Prime Minister, said: “This is every parent’s very worst fear and a nightmare that no one should have to endure.”
Many of the victims were staying at the Nana Backpacker Hostel in Vang Vieng, a small town in central Laos, where staff were warned that a number of guests had fallen ill after failing to check out on Nov 13.
Millions of British tourists visit South East Asia each year, where the ‘Banana Pancake Trail’, a popular, loosely defined route through several countries in the region, as well as Full Moon parties, have become rites of passage for backpackers. The warm welcome, hedonistic nightlife scene and sense of freedom are central to the appeal of this region, along with the white-sand beaches, natural beauty and balmy climate.
But as parents prepare to wave farewell to their children – whether heading out on a Gap Year adventure or on a backpacking trip in their twenties – it is important to remember that this is a highly complex region. In some south-east Asian countries drug abuse can be punishable by death, road traffic safety standards are among the worst in the world and drink spiking and bootleg alcohol are common issues.
Here are the five key safety concerns of visiting South East Asia that all backpackers, and parents of backpackers, should be aware of before they go – plus advice on insurance, and staying in touch with your children while they are away.
Is South East Asia safe? The expert view
Lee Cobaj is Telegraph Travel’s expert on South East Asia. She explains the complexities of the region.
“People have this misconception that South East Asia is more ‘free’ than other parts of the world, because they can hire motorbikes without licences, go wild at beach parties and find drugs in party zones like Vang Vieng in Laos and Thailand’s Full Moon parties.
“It’s a heady atmosphere that allows people to drop their inhibitions but the dangers are as real as travelling anywhere else. Visiting this part of the world is great fun – until it’s not.
“Health and safety is an abstract concept in South East Asia, often only enforced when there’s some kind of headline-grabbing tragedy. There are frequent tragedies in places like Vang Vieng in Laos, Kuta in Bali, Phnom Penh in Cambodia, and Phuket, Pattaya and Koh Pha Ngan in Thailand.
“Over my years living in Asia I’ve heard stories on a horrifyingly regular basis of people having their drinks spiked and then being assaulted, falls from balconies, broken bones – or worse – from leaping into rocky rivers and bays, overloaded boats sinking, overconfident swimmers drowning, fireworks blowing up in people’s hands, amputations and decapitations from hanging out train windows – never mind the number of scooter accidents [Thailand’s road traffic deaths are the ninth highest in the world per capita].
“Sadly, after some initial crackdown, very little changes at a government level. As a result, travellers simply can’t expect to find the same safety standards as they would in the Western world, and need to be fully aware of the dangers that exist.”
Alcohol dangers
Many British tourists will visit South East Asia for its vibrant nightlife scene. Often, party venues will have a large, communal “booze bucket” which backpackers often drink from using straws, and there have been reports of these being spiked.
Bootleg alcohol is widespread across South East Asia. The Foreign Office warns: “Methanol has been used in the manufacture of counterfeit replicas of well-known alcohol brands or illegal local spirits, like vodka. You should take care if offered, particularly for free, or when buying spirit-based drinks. If labels, smell or taste seem wrong then do not drink.
“Methanol is tasteless and odourless. It can rapidly lead to serious illness. Long-term effects may include blindness and permanent damage to the Central Nervous System. Coma and death may occur following substantial exposure.”
The type of drinks that contain methanol could include local spirits such as rice or palm liquor, spirit-based drinks like cocktails, or counterfeit brand-named bottled alcohol that you find in shops. Travellers should only buy drinks at licensed bars or liquor stores, should avoid home-made drinks, always check bottle seals are intact, and check labels for spelling mistakes or poor print quality.
Tourists should also be warned that drinks served in south-east Asian countries are often stronger than in the UK, usually because the spirit measures are bigger. Aside from the aforementioned “booze buckets”, individual drink spiking is a concern – travellers are warned to never leave their drink unattended and to be cautious when accepting drinks from strangers.
Road safety
The whole region has road safety standards lower than equivalents in Europe. Thailand, in particular, has one of the worst records for fatalities on motorcycles according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
On its Thailand page, the Foreign Office warns: “Motorcycles and scooters for hire in beach resorts are often unregistered and cannot be used legally on a public road. Before you hire a vehicle, make sure your travel insurance covers you and check the small print of the lease agreement. Do not hand over your passport as a guarantee against returning a motorcycle or scooter.”
Scams
In 2023, more than 91 million tourists visited Indonesia, Laos, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam and the Philippines. Many would have faced scams in various forms.
Jonathan Frankham, General Manager for UK and Europe at insurance firm World Nomads, warns: “In Cambodia, beware of ATM card skimming, fake orphanages, and overly friendly strangers offering unsolicited help. In Vietnam, avoid offers to smoke tobacco pipes or purchase antiques, which can lead to fines or legal trouble.”
On the Foreign Office page for Indonesia, many of the warnings apply for all countries in South East Asia: “Credit card fraud is common. Do not lose sight of your card during transactions. Criminals sometimes place a fake telephone number on ATMs advising customers to report problems so they can fraudulently ask for card details. Unlicensed money changers may short-change you.
“Only use licensed currency exchanges, identified by a Bank of Indonesia logo and a QR code. Open the code to check the name of the business and its operating licence. There has been a rise in the number of scams at tattoo parlours, nail salons and spas in Bali. Take care when choosing your provider and agree fees in advance.”
Drug possession
Heavy drinking and drug abuse are common in South East Asia. Backpackers should never take illegal drugs in the region, firstly for the potential dangers to health, but also due to the extremely strict laws against drug abuse.
In Indonesia, authorities take a zero-tolerance approach and those caught using drugs could face lengthy prison sentences, or a death penalty. Police have been known to raid venues and take urine or blood samples of partygoers.
Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand have similarly strict policies on hard drugs. On the subject of cannabis in Thailand, the Foreign Office advises: “While low-strength cannabis is legal in Thailand, it is likely to be illegal in other countries you travel on to. This includes residual amounts, for example in bags or clothing or in your bloodstream.
The Foreign Office adds: “Conditions in prisons and other detention facilities in Thailand are harsh, with limited access to healthcare. Detainees have died in custody.” The death penalty has been issued for drug crimes in Thailand.
In the Philippines, being in possession of even a small quantity of drugs will lead to a mandatory prison sentence. In Malaysia, offenders could be given punishments as harsh as the death penalty, or a “whipping” according to the Foreign Office.
Petty crime
Petty crime is rife. Bag-snatching and pickpocketing in particular are prevalent. Tourists are warned to be particularly cautious in crowded markets and on public transport, and to make sure they don’t leave their belongings unattended at hostels.
Other crimes to be aware of
The Foreign Office warns of other safety concerns in South East Asia, including terrorism, sexual assault, violent crime, organised crime and job scams. Tourists should read the relevant FCDO pages for Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Indonesia before travelling, to ensure you are up to speed on the latest advice.
Which insurance should you buy?
Travellers to South East Asia should consider taking out a comprehensive insurance policy which includes overseas medical, repatriation, coverage for belongings and cover for adventure activities.
Jonathan Frankham of World Nomads, says: “We were deeply saddened to hear about the tragic death of Simone White in Laos.
“At World Nomads, we see frequent claims related to food poisoning, road accidents, and theft in the region,” he added.
Frankham recommends: “We always recommend checking the policy wording carefully and ask yourself, how much cover will you need if something goes wrong? Only you know where you’re planning to go, how much you paid, what you’re planning to do, see and visit, and how your personal situation might influence your choice.”
A Gap Year guide for anxious parents
by Natalie Paris
Check in often
Arrange to have catch-ups with your gap year traveller, even if all they can manage is an occasional message. This will allow you to keep up to date with their adventures, but also confirm they are safe and where they are meant to be. Video calls via Whatsapp and Facetime are great when time allows, but texts or phone calls work as well.
Keep an eye on the news
When people are travelling to remote places with little technology, or have busy schedules, it can be hard to keep up to date with current affairs. You can help them by checking the security and health situation in the countries your traveller is visiting, or by signing up yourself to the Foreign Office’s email alerts.
Keep documents safe
Those at home should set themselves up as an emergency contact. Get them to make scanned copies of all their important documents before they go (passports, visas, travel insurance, medical certificates, credit cards, debit cards, useful phone numbers) so that you can keep them in a safe place. Be ready to pass on any of this information should the traveller need it while they are away.
Manage your expectations
Remember that gap years are a chance for your child to experience freedom and independence. Not being at your beck and call is a big part of that. Look forward to your children returning full of stories, having enjoyed new responsibilities. Future employers will appreciate this too.
If you are waiting on a reply from a gapper, remember that they are being kept very busy. Young people on structured trips will have jobs and group activities to attend to. They will probably have a dedicated advisor on hand, so their first port of call won’t necessarily be you and they should have everything they need to overcome obstacles. If they are travelling independently, they will probably be trying to cram as much sightseeing as they can into a day, while working hard to make connections that will make their lives easier.
