Four countries dominate: Vietnam, Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia. Between them they hold tens of thousands of kilometres of tropical coastline, warm water year-round, low living costs, and — crucially — property markets still priced mainly by local buyers. Malaysia and Sri Lanka round out the picture with different trade-offs on law and price.
The catch across the region is ownership. Almost nowhere in Southeast Asia can a foreigner buy beachfront land outright in their own name. What you can do is own a condominium freehold, hold land on a long renewable lease, or use a legitimate usage right. Understanding that before you fall in love with a house saves months.
