>>15617990QRD on SE Asian living
-low cost of living
-decent salary (teaching ESL, working remotely, doing something with local business ex import/export or consulting with a local company who needs a white face)
-high quality of life (nice housing, good food, beautiful scenery, available women, various entertainment options, good social scenes with both expats and locals, cool travel options)
Capital cities are usually crowded and dirty (though I love Saigon and consider it a second home, Phnom Penh and Vientiane also occupy a special place in my heart) but also where you can find work the easiest. I would recommend moving to one of these countries with a few thousand saved and taking a month to travel around and get the lay of the land, connect with some local folks, see what your options are. Then start looking for jobs and housing options- finding a room in a shared house with other foreigners is typically cheapest and best.
If I went back to SE Asia I'd probably live in Da Nang, Ha Long, Luang Prabang, Chiang Mai, Kampot, or someplace by a beach. 4,000 Islands/Si Phan Don in S Laos near the Cambodian border on the Mekong is paradise but that's more of a retirement destination and less of a working destination
