Which of the following is a land locked country in South East Asia?

Introduction / Context:
In regional geography, it is important to know which countries are land locked and which have access to the sea, because this affects trade routes, naval power, and economic development. South East Asia is well known for its long coastlines and island nations, yet it also contains at least one country that has no direct access to the sea. The question asks which of the listed countries is land locked within South East Asia.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The region of interest is South East Asia.
• Options are Thailand, Malaysia, Laos, and Vietnam.
• Land locked means a country has no coastline on any sea or ocean.
• We assume standard political boundaries for modern South East Asia.

Concept / Approach:
The concept needed is to visualise or recall which South East Asian states touch the sea. Thailand has coasts on the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea. Malaysia has coasts on the South China Sea and the Straits of Malacca. Vietnam has a long coastline along the South China Sea. Laos, by contrast, is surrounded by land on all sides and does not have any seacoast, making it a land locked country. Therefore, identifying the only country without a coastline among the options leads to the correct answer.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall a map of South East Asia and list which countries border the sea. Step 2: Identify that Thailand has seacoasts on two sides and is famous for its beaches and islands. Step 3: Note that Malaysia includes both a peninsula and part of the island of Borneo, giving it extensive coastlines. Step 4: Recall that Vietnam runs along the eastern margin of the region with a long coastline on the South China Sea. Step 5: Observe that Laos lies inland between Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, China, and Myanmar and has no direct access to the sea. Step 6: Conclude that Laos is the only land locked country among the listed options.

Verification / Alternative check:
Verification can be done by consulting any atlas or political map of South East Asia. The outlines clearly show that Laos has no coastline, while the other three countries touch the sea. Additionally, economic and development reports often mention that Laos relies on neighbouring countries ports for international trade, further confirming its land locked status. Travel literature also highlights Laos as a country of rivers and mountains but without beaches, unlike Thailand, Malaysia, and Vietnam.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Thailand is not land locked because it has coastlines on the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea. Malaysia is not land locked and has extensive coasts along the South China Sea and the Straits of Malacca. Vietnam is not land locked either; it has a very long coastline along the South China Sea, famous for many coastal cities.

Common Pitfalls:
Some students may confuse Laos with nearby inland regions or may not strongly visualise the map and so guess randomly. Another pitfall is to forget that Malaysia includes both peninsular and island parts, making it clearly coastal. To avoid mistakes, it helps to memorise that Laos is the only land locked country in South East Asia and that all its neighbours have access to the sea, which is why Laos relies on them for port facilities.

Final Answer:
The land locked country in South East Asia among the options is Laos.