Hekou, China

With a population of just under 45,000, Hekou is a sleepy border town that offers little to excite the average expat. The lone railway connection to Vietnam provides some economic activity, but the service is plagued by frequent delays due to landslides. Bureaucracy is a persistent headache, and the climate can be sweltering. Ultimately, Hekou is best suited for those with a high tolerance for tedium and a masochistic love of red tape.