A hot-air balloon is seen in the sky as tourists travel along the Nam Song river in Vang Vieng on November 24, 2024. The Laos government said on November 23 it was "profoundly saddened" by the deaths of foreign tourists in Vang Vieng, with the toll from a suspected methanol poisoning incident now at six. Six tourists died of suspected methanol poisoning after a night out in the Laos backpacker hotspot of Vang Vieng last week. (Photo by AFP)