Asia is the most disaster-prone continent and low-income communities in many countries are highly vulnerable to the impact of hazards. In this paper post-disaster shelter reconstruction projects by humanitarian and community development organisations in several Asian countries including Vietnam, Bangladesh and Indonesia will be discussed, based on the author's experience. Utilising case studies, some of the key challenges as well as opportunities inherent in post-disaster shelter reconstruction in Asia are highlighted. Principally, these case studies represent situations that are typical in many parts of Asia particularly affected by disasters and where socio-economic conditions play a key role in shaping the nature of reconstruction programs.