Southeast Asia had 11 countries including

Brunei
 Cambodia
 Indonesia
 Laos
 Malaysia
 Myanmar (Burma)
 Philippines
 Singapore
 Thailand
 Vietnam
East Timor
Southeast Asia Overview
Southeast Asia had a total area of 4.5M sq km

 its major biomes was Rainforest

 the mainland (Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam) is an extension of

the Asian continent.

 The physiography of Southeast Asia has been formed to a large extent by the
convergence of three of the Earth's major crustal units: the Eurasian, Indian-
Australian, and Pacific plates
Southeast Asia Overview
Southeast asia is located in the southeast portion of the continent
Asia. It is China’s south and east of India. The two major seas are South
Chine Sea and Philippine Sea.
Countries in Southeast Asia are rich in minerals such as;
• Lead
• Zinc
• Silver
• Antinomy
• Tin
• Tangsten
Southeast Asia Overview
But genarally the soils of Southeast Asia are poor , sterile, red
laterites, which are created by the leaching action of heavy rainfall, it
washed away the silica and left the clays.The rainfall in most areas is
over eighty inches a year.
Early States
Early centuries of Christian era, some of the fertile regions of Southeast
Asia had become major centres of population and power.
 it is an European origin.
Southeast Asia Overview
Rome demanded for the products of Southeast Asian just like,
gold spices, scented woods and raisins.
- Funan Civilization
Funan was the first large Southeast Asian civilization. It was
centered on the lower Mekong Delta in present-day Cambodia and
Vietnam and stretched into Thailand, and, possibly, Malaysia. Funan
lasted from the A.D.
Funan emerged in the second century B.C. as the earliest and
most significant power in Southeast Asia. Its Hindu ruling class
controlled all of present-day Cambodia and extended its power to the
center of modern Thailand.
 The Funan economy was based on maritime trade and a well-
developed agricultural system; Funan maintained close commercial contact
with India and served as a base for the Brahman merchant-missionaries who
brought Hindu culture to Southeast Asia.
- Chenla
In the 6th and 7th centuries Funan was weakened by civil wars and
absorbed by the pre-Khmer civilization of Chenla (Zhenla). In the 8th century
it split into two kingdoms. Lower Chenla was located east of Tonle Sap. Upper
Chenla extended from the northern shore of Tonle Sap northward up the
Mekong River into southern Laos. Chenla was conquered by Khmers.
Ancient Mon
The first major group of immigrants to arrive in present-day
Burma were the Mon settled in what is now northern Burma around the
third century BC. Pegu was established by the Mon in the 6th century, it
was the capital of southern Myanmar in the 13th century. The Mon
were heavily influenced by Indian Hindu culture and Asoka Buddhist
kingdom in India. They established the Dvaravati Kingdom (A.D. 6th to
11th century) and several centers in mainland Southeast Asia.
The Dvaravatis controlled the Menam Valley area in present-day
Thailand from the 6th or 7th century to the 11th century. They were
ultimately defeated by the Thais who absorbed much of their culture.
Thaton
Thaton was once a flourishing port community that
communicated with and transported goods from as far away as
Southern India. Thaton fell under Burmese control during the 11th
century when the first great King of Pagan, Anawrahta, sacked the city
and returned to Pagan with Thaton's King Manuha as his captive.
Thaton remained under Burmese domination until the fall of
Pagan in 13th century. Thenceforth, the Mons re-established their
independence, although the capital was later moved to other locations
including Marataban and Pegu.
Trade and Society
• Fifteenth century, the major population movements were overland,
outside influences, perhaps migrations, were reaching Southeast Asia
by sea, placed as it was at the confluence of world routes.
• Certainly the area was commercially linked with China and with India
and the Middle East and thus indirectly with Europe from the early
centuries A.D.
• The economies of India and China and of the great rice-growing areas
of Southeast Asia-indeed the most parts of Southeast Asia-were and
remained primarily subsistence economies.
• Southeast Asia came to be both a commercial route and itself a source
of supply. It provided tin, spices, ivory and ebony, gold and aromatics
for India, and thus in part for Europe, in return receiving high-quality
Indian piece-goods. To China, in return for silk, porcelain and lacquer
ware, parasols and objects of ceremonial use, it supplied precious
metals, jewels, cotton fabrics, betel nut, and aromatics.
• Southeast Asia’s major agricultural areas of this period, central Burma,
the Red River basin, the Menam valley, and east and central Java,
came to support relatively dense and organised populations, a richly-
developed village life providing the substructure for aristocratic and
bureaucratic kingdoms.
• Dai Viet – the Chinese domination before 939 had worked against
feudalism, and subsequent monarchs sought to maintain the Chinese
system of a hierarchy of civil and military officials for entry into it.
• Ly Thai-tong (1028-54) gave fiefs to particular supporters, great
officials receiving the right to levy taxes and corvee services on families
in the villages of certain areas.
• East and central Java were early the scene of intensive agriculture,
relatively dense population, bureaucratic monarchy.
• Emperor Le Thai-to liberated the Dai Viet from the Ming invaders from
1940s and established a new capital called Dong-kinh (hence
“Tonkin”). He carried through a redistribution of land, in particular
expropriating those who had joined the Ming.
• The system in Ayuthia was perhaps like that in Pagan.
• Myothugyis – hereditary township leaders, who combined the duties
of police officer, minor judge, tax collector, and army recruiter.
• In Java one part of the state was hereditary hands, one set aside for
the support of the court.
• The trading towns of Southeast Asia were river-mouth settlements,
engaging in the traffic between the interior and the outside world.
• The trading towns often originated in the local ex-tribal aristocracies along
the coast and in the activities of the energetic rulers who sought to
participate in and develop the commerce along the river and live off it by
duties or monopolies.
• In some cases they might compel the population, enslaved or subject to
corvee, or deliver spices, collect jungle produce, or mine tin.
• The development of these political structures produces some civilization
among the coastal Malay peoples.
• These petty principalities could scarcely contact each other overland: they
could on the other hand be linked by the sea. It was this that made a larger
form of government among them, the creation of Archipelagic empires
composed of a number of principalities.
• The objective of an empire-builder was (1.)the concentration of the trade of
a number of rivers in a single entrepot and/or (2.)the exaction of duties or
customs or services from the local rivers which might be farmed out more
or less hereditarily to members of the imperial aristocracy or form
appanages of the great officers of the empire.
• Sri Vijaya, the first benefited from the position of its capital in the
Straits: but its prosperity was based also on the enforced stapling of
the international trade of Southeast Asia; and for this military and
maritime power was unhesitatingly used.
Portuguese
• The Portuguese object came to be to trade within Asia, to attempt to
monopolise the more important products, and to remit the profits of
empire to Europe in the form of spices.
• They also went to the Pulicat, Negapatam, and St. Thome in order to
participate in textile trade to Southeast Asia.
• After 1557, Portuguese occupied Macao, participating thence in the
trade of Southeast Asia and to Japan where they were welcomed as
supplies firearms.
• Towards the end of the 15th century the Portuguese launched a series
of great voyages of exploration, aimed at establishing trade routes to
the East - particularly to India and to the Spice Islands.
Brief history
From the 14th to the 16th centuries BruneiDarussalam was the
seat of a powerful sultanate extending over Sabah, Sarawak and the
lower Philippines. Thus, the current Sultan represents one of the
oldest continuously ruling dynasties in the world.
Types of government
• constitutional monarchy
• absolute monarchy
• unitary state
• Islamic state
International relations
• Brunei joined ASEAN on January 7,1984
• Joined UNITED NATIONS in September 1984
• member of ORGANIZATION of ISLAMIC COOPERATION (OIC) and ASIA
PACIFIC ECONOMIC COOPERATION (APEC)
• founding member of WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION (WTO)
Material culture
• official language- standard Malay (Bahasa Melayu)
• 428,000 people in Brunei
• the culture of Brunei is strongly influoby Malay culture and Islamic
religion
• Food/dishes in Brunei ar often spicy.
• beef rendang, Nasi Lemak, and Puteri Nanas are popular food in Brunei
• clothes. Men- baju cara melayu (a tunic and long pants)
• Women- baju kurung (a long tunic over a long skirt)
Belief system and religion
• Islam 78%
• Christian 8.7%
• Buddhist 7.8%
• other (indigenous belief) 4.7%
Family set-up
Extended family and included aunts, uncles, and cousins as well
as close friends.

Gender Roles
In version if Islamic society, Bruneian women are regarded as
person of "very high status“

Justice/human rights
Shaira Law
Media
- controlled by the government
- brudirect.com no. 1 news website

Racial origin
-Brunei is a Malay-dominated country. Many cultural and
linguistic differences make Brunei Malays distinct from the larger Malay
populations in nearby Malaysia and Indonesia, even though they are
ethnically related and share the Muslim religion
Terrorism
- No recent history of terrorism in Brunei

Landmark
- Sultan Omar Ali Saifiddien Mosque
Brief history
• Culture Name Cambodian
• Alternative Names
• Kampuchean, Khmer
• Identification. The name "Cambodia" derives from the French Cambodge,
• which comes from the Khmer word Kâmpuchea, meaning "born of Kambu."
During the socialist regimes of Democratic Kampuchea (DK) (1975–1979) and the
People's Republic of Kampuchea (PRK) (1979–1989), the country was known
internationally as Kampuchea, but more recent governments have returned to
using Cambodia, and the official name in English is now the Kingdom of
Cambodia.
Types of government
The government of Cambodia is considered a constitutional
monarchy, which means that the monarch rules according to a written
constitution. The Prime Minister acts as head of government while the
Monarch acts as head of state, a symbol of national unity. The
government is carried out by a Parliamentary system and three
branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial.
International relations
For a more than 25 years, the West has helped rebuild Cambodia as it
recovered from the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime. The United States and Europe
sent billions of dollars in aid to help transform Cambodia into a liberal democracy, an
effort that has largely failed.
Cambodia was heavily reliant on foreign assistance -- about half of the central
government budget depends on donor assistance, and as much as one tenth of gross
national product. The Royal Cambodian Government [RGC] has participated in
preparing innumerable plans which reflect state-of-the-art thinking in the
international donor community, and are rich in rhetoric on such themes as good
governance, transparency, accountability and participation. In most cases, reform
plans are little more than a studied attempt to tell international donors what they
want to hear. Even cursory examination of the reality behind the rhetoric reveals
neither substance nor political will. The RGC continues to use a broad array of tactics
to divert reform-minded donors. Despite the fact that donors account for half of the
annual budget of the RGC, most reform efforts have had limited impact on a
persistent, less-than-scrupulous opponent. The RGC readily agrees to accept donor
projects, particularly when they include such benefits as study trips and perhaps
funds that can be diverted. But some projects stretch out over a remarkably long
time without observable results.
Material culture
The Angkorian architects and sculptors created temples that mapped the cosmic world in
stone. Khmer decorations drew inspiration from religion, and mythical creatures
from Hinduism and Buddhism were carved on walls. Temples were built in accordance to the rule of
ancient Khmer architecture that dictated that a basic temple layout include a central shrine, a
courtyard, an enclosing wall, and a moat. Khmer motifs use many creatures from Buddhist and Hindu
mythology, like the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, use motifs such as the garuda, a mythical bird in
Hinduism. The architecture of Cambodia developed in stages under the Khmer empire from the 9th to
the 15th century, preserved in many buildings of the Angkor temple. The remains of secular architecture
from this time are rare, as only religious buildings were made of stone. The architecture of the Angkor
period used specific structural features and styles, which are one of the main methods used to date the
temples, along with inscriptions.
Material culture
In Cambodia, premarital sex is deplored. The choice of a spouse is a complex one for the young
male, and it may involve not only his parents and his friends, as well as those of the young woman, but
also a matchmaker and a haora (a Khmer "fortuneteller" versed in Indian astrology). In theory, a girl may
veto the spouse her parents have chosen for her. Courtship patterns differ between rural and urban
Khmer; marriage as a culmination of romantic love is a notion that exists to a much greater extent in
larger cities. A man usually marries between the ages of nineteen and twenty-five, a girl between the
ages of sixteen and twenty-two. After a spouse has been selected, each family investigates the other to
make sure its child is marrying into a good family. In rural areas, there is a form of bride-service; that is,
the young man may take a vow to serve his prospective father-in-law for a period of time. By tradition,
the youngest daughter and her spouse are expected to live with and care for her ageing parents and their
land.
Material culture
Customs:
In Khmer culture a person's head is believed to contain the
person's soul—therefore making it taboo to touch or point one's feet at it. It
is also considered to be extremely disrespectful to use the feet to point out a
person, or to sit or sleep with the soles of the feet pointing at a person, as
the feet are the lowest part of the body and are considered to be impure.
When greeting people or to show respect in Cambodia people do the
"sampeah" gesture, identical to the Indian namaste and Thai wai.
Customary Cambodian teachings are laid out in verse form in long
works from the 14th to 18th centuries collectively called Chhbap ("rules" or
"codes").These were traditionally learned by rote. Works such as the Chhbap
Pros ("Boy's Code"), Chhbap Srey ("Girl's Code") and Chhbap Peak
Chas ("Code of Ancient Words") gave such advice as: a person that does not
wake up before sunrise is lazy; a child must tell parents or elders where they
go and what time they will return home; always close doors gently,
otherwise a bad temper will be assumed; sit in a chair with the legs straight
down and not crossed (crossing the legs is a mark of an impolite person); and
always let the other person do more talking.
Material culture
Clothing
Clothing in Cambodia is one of the most important aspects of the culture. Cambodian fashion differs
according to ethnic group and social class. Khmer people traditionally wear a checkered scarf called a Krama.
The "krama" is what distinctly separates the Khmer (Cambodians) from their neighbors the Thai, the
Vietnamese, and the Laotians. The scarf is used for many purposes including for style, protection from the sun,
an aid (for the feet) when climbing trees, a hammock for infants, a towel, or as a "sarong". A "krama" can also
be easily shaped into a small child's doll for play. Under the Khmer Rouge, krama of various patterns were part
of standard clothing. The long-popular traditional garment known as the Sampot, is an Indian-influenced
costume which Cambodians have worn since the Funan era. Historically, Khmer clothing has changed
depending on the time period and religion. From the Funan era to the Angkor Era, there was a
strong Hindu influence in Cambodian fashion which favored wearing Sampots over the lower body and
oftentimes nothing from the waist up except jewelry including bracelets and collars such as the Sarong Kor, a
symbol of Hinduism.
Belief system and religion
Theravada Buddhism spread in the later years of the Khmer Empire and is
traditionally considered the religion of ethnic Khmer. Animist practices and what
are called Brahmanistic practices are also part of the culture and are deeply
intermingled with the everyday practice of Buddhism. They are not considered
separate religions but part of the spectrum of choices for dealing with moral,
physical, and spiritual needs. Buddhism is a national tradition, with a bureaucracy
and a written tradition. Brahmanist and spirit practices are more localized and are
passed on from person to person rather than as a formal institution.
Family set up
Classically a nuclear family consisting of parents and children;
however, there is much flexibility in allowing other arrangements.
Residence after marriage is ideally neolocal but often, for practical
reasons, with the parents of one of the spouses. The preference is for
matrilocality, although this is not a rigid rule. Aged parents often live
with their adult children. Major family decisions are shared by the
husband and wife.
Gender roles
Division of Labor by Gender. In most spheres, there is some flexibility in
gender roles. Most tasks performed by men occasionally are performed by women,
and vice versa. Traditionally among villagers, men fished, plowed, threshed rice,
made and repaired tools, and cared for cattle. Women transplanted seedlings; did
washing, mending, and housecleaning; performed most of the child care; and did
the everyday shopping. Women are traditionally responsible for a family's money
and engage in small-scale marketing.
The Relative Status of Women and Men. Bilateral kinship and a strong
tendency toward matrilocality leave women in a position of relative strength.
Traditional codes of behavior for women are more elaborate and strict than
those for men.
Media
The Cambodian media sector is vibrant and largely unregulated.
This situation has led to the establishment of numerous radio,
television and print media outlets. Many private sector companies have
moved into the media sector, which represents a significant change
from many years of state-run broadcasting and publishing.
Racial origin
• The Khmers are one of the oldest ethnic groups in the area, having filtered
into Southeast Asia around the same time as the Mon.
Most archaeologists and linguists, and other specialists like Sinologists and
crop experts, believe they arrived no later than 2000 BCE (over four
thousand years ago) bringing with them the practice of agriculture and in
particular the cultivation of rice. They were the builders of the later Khmer
Empire which dominated Southeast Asia for six centuries beginning in 802
CE, and now form the mainstream of political, cultural, and economic
Cambodia.
• The Khmers developed the first alphabet still in use in Southeast Asia which
in turn gave birth to the later Thai and Lao scripts. The Khmers are
considered by most archaeologists and ethnologists to be indigenous to the
contiguous regions of Isan, southernmost Laos, Cambodia and Southern
Vietnam. That is to say the Khmer have historically been a lowland people
who lived close to one of the tributaries of the Mekong.
Terrorism
Terrorism had been threatening everywhere, causing deaths among the innocent. To fight
terrorism more effectively, greater and closer cooperation was needed among the many
authorities concerned in order to face up to those criminal activities against humanity. At the
same time, there were countries that had the capacity to produce nuclear weapons that had
not yet signed the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. The dissemination of
weapons of mass destruction constituted another massive deadly menace to humanity.
On the Middle East conflict, Cambodia believes that the international community has to help
find a viable solution which could bring about a lasting peace to the region. Violence is not a
solution in whatever form. On the contrary, violence appeals more violence. The Palestinian
people have an inalienable right to dispose its own state living in peace with Israel. Both sides
must have the wisdom to understand that they are condemned to live side by side forever.
Therefore, it is better for both sides to remain at peace with each other than to engage in war.
Cambodia supports reforming the United Nations, particularly the UN Security Council.
Cambodia believes that the UN cannot continue to operate in the current modus operandi, if
we wanted to further improve this important global institution in order to truly reflect the
twenty-first century's needs and political realities of the world today, which should be
amended as early as possible. Any attempt to further delay the UN reform will only undermine
the credibility of this universal institution.
Top land marks

Angkor Wat Temple

Ta prohm

Bayon Temple
Indonesia
Brief history
The history of Indonesia has been shaped by its geographic position, its
natural resources, a series of human migrations and contacts, wars and conquests,
as well as by trade, economics and politics. Indonesia is an archipelagic country of
17,000 to 18,000 islands (8,844 named and 922 permanently inhabited) stretching
along the equator in South East Asia. The country's strategic sea-lane position
fostered inter-island and international trade; trade has since fundamentally shaped
Indonesian history. The area of Indonesia is populated by peoples of various
migrations, creating a diversity of cultures, ethnicities, and languages. The
archipelago's landforms and climate significantly influenced agriculture and trade,
and the formation of states. The boundaries of the state of Indonesia represent
the 20th century borders of the Dutch East Indies.
Types of government
The highest state institution is the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR),
whose functions previously included electing the president and vice-president
(since 2004 the president has been elected directly by the people), establishing
broad guidelines of state policy, and amending the constitution.
Branches
Executive branch
The president and vice-president are selected by vote of the
citizens for five-year terms. Prior to 2004, they were chosen by People's
Consultative Assembly
Legislative branch
The People's Consultative Assembly (Indonesian: Majelis
Permusyawaratan Rakyat, MPR) is the legislative branch in Indonesia's
political system.
Judicial branch
The People's Consultative Assembly (Indonesian: Majelis
Permusyawaratan Rakyat, MPR) is the legislative branch in Indonesia's
political system
International Relations
Since independence, Indonesia foreign relations have adhered to a "free and active"
foreign policy, seeking to play a role in regional affairs commensurate with its size and location but
avoiding involvement in conflicts among major powers. Indonesian foreign policy under the "New
Order" government of President Suharto moved away from the stridently anti-Western, anti-
American posturing that characterised the latter part of the Sukarno era. Following Suharto's ouster
in 1998, Indonesia's government has preserved the broad outlines of Suharto's independent,
moderate foreign policy. Preoccupation with domestic problems has not prevented successive
presidents from travelling abroad and Indonesia's participation in many international fora.
• ASEAN
A cornerstone of Indonesia's contemporary foreign policy is its participation in the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), of which it was a founding member in 1967
with Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and the Philippines.
Material culture
The national costume of Indonesia is the national costume that represents
the Republic of Indonesia. It is derived from Indonesian culture and Indonesian traditional
textile traditions. Today the most widely recognized Indonesian national costumes
include batik] and kebaya, although originally those costumes mainly belong within the culture
of Java and Bali, most prominently within Javanese, Sundanese and Balinese culture. Since Java
has been the political and population center of Indonesia, folk costume from the island has
become elevated into national status.
• Men
Baju koko also known as baju takwa, a traditional Malay-Indonesian men Muslim shirt, worn
usually during religious occasions, such as shalat jumat or during lebaran (Eid al-Fitr) festival. It
is usually worn with the sarong and peci.
Beskap, Javanese traditional clothing worn usually by men for formal traditional attire
• Women
Kemben, is a classic Javanese female torso wrap historically common in Java and Bali,
commonly uses batik cloth.
Baju kurung, Malay women's blouse.
Baju bodo, Bugis-Makassar women's loose and rather transparent blouse, from South Sulawesi.
Daster is a women informal home-dress made of thin fabric and is a full body dress. It usually
has the motives of batik patterns and is widely worn by women inside the home in Indonesia.
Belief system and religion
Sunni Islam
Islam is thought to have entered Indonesia at some point in the early 700's via Arab traders.
Protestant Christianity
Protestant Christianity, also known as Protestantism, first arrived in Indonesia with the establishment of
the first Dutch outpost in the country by the Dutch East India Company in 1603.
Roman Catholic Christianity
Roman Catholic Christianity, also known as Catholicism, first arrived in Indonesia in the 14th century
when the Italian Franciscan monk Odorico Mattiussi led a Roman Catholic mission to the country but did not gain
a foothold in Indonesia until the Portuguese arrived in 1511 and conquered Malacca.
Hinduism
Hinduism probably arrived in Indonesia at some point in the 1st century AD, but the evidence is unclear
as to an exact date or how the religion arrived from India, though there are a few major theories on the latter
Buddhism
Buddhism was the second religion to come to in Indonesia from abroad. Buddhism first arrived in Indonesia in the
1st century via trade
Shia Islam Kebatinan
Subud Judaism
Animism Atheism
Confusianism Ahmadi Islam
Gender roles
Indonesia has a traditional view of gender roles for the most part. Women
usually tackle the chores while men go out to work – although women hold a large
part of the workforce as well (Indonesia, 2014). This traditional sense most likely
stemmed from the country’s Asian background because those are important roles
in the culture. Indonesia has a traditional view of gender roles for the most part.
Women usually tackle the chores while men go out to work – although women hold
a large part of the workforce as well (Indonesia, 2014). This traditional sense most
likely stemmed from the country’s Asian background because those are important
roles in the culture.
Racial origin
Native Indonesians, also Pribumi (literally "first on the soil") is a term
used to distinguish Indonesians whose ancestral roots lie mainly in the
archipelago from Indonesians of known (partial) foreign descent,
especially Chinese Indonesians and Indo-Europeans (Eurasians). In practice,
the term is seldom used in relation to Indonesians of Melanesian descent,
although it does not exclude them. The term "native Indonesians" should not
be confused with the more generic term Indonesians or Indonesian citizens.
The term putra daerah ("son of the region") refers to a person who is
indigenous to a specific locality or region. The term bumiputra is sometimes
used in Indonesia with the same meaning as pribumi, but is more commonly
used in Malaysia, where it has a slightly different meaning.
Top Landmarks

Ubud Monkey
Forest Tana Toraja

Mount Bromo
. Krakatau Island
 Komodo Island

Prambanan Temple

Borobudur
Tanah Lot Temple
Laos
Brief History
• the Lao People's Republic
• reffered to by its colloquial name of Muang Lao
• the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia at the heart of the Indochinese peninsula, bordered by Myanmar (Burma) and
China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the southwest, and Thailand to the west and southwest.
• Capital - Vientiane
• Spoken languages- Lao, Hmong, Kmu, Frech
• Formation:
• * Kingdom of Lan Xang - 1354 -1707
• * Fall of Lan Xang, Kingdom - 1707 -1778
of Luang Phrabang, Kingdom
of Vientiane, Kingdom of Champasak
and Principality of Phvan
• * French Indochina - 1893 -1949
• * Declared Independence - 19 July 1949
• * Independence from France - 22 October 1953
• * Laotian civil war - 9 Nov. 1953 - 2 Dec. 1975
• * Lao Monarchy abolished - 2 Dec. 1975
• * Current constitution - 14 August 1991
Types of Government
Communist State
• Political culture
• - Laos' first, french-written and monarchical constitution, was promulgated on May 11, 1947
and declared it to be an independent state within the French Union.
• - The revised constitution was promulgated on May 11, 1957, omitted reference to the
Union, though close educational, health and technical ties with former colonial power
persisted.
• - The following year elections were held for a new 85 seat National Assembly with members
elected by secret ballot to five year terms.
• 1. Executive branch
• - president is elected by the national Assembly for a five-year term.
• 2. Legislative branch
• - National Assembly (Sapha Heng Xat) has 149 members (144 are LPRP, 5 independants),
elected for a five-year term.
• 3. Judicial branch
• - President of the People's Supreme Court is elected by the National Assembly on the
recommendation of the National Assembly Standing Committee.
International relations
- Laos is a member of the following international organizations:
• ASEAN
• ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA)
• ASEAN Regional Forum
• Asian Development Bank
• Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
• International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (World Bank)
• United Nation's Convention on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
• United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
• Health Organization (WHO)

Bilateral relations
• Brunei (Brunei-Laos relations)
• Cambodia (Cambodia-Laos relations)
• China (People's Republic of China-Laos Relations)
• France (France-Laos relations)
• Philippines (Laos- Philippines relations
Material culture
Laos Traditional Costumes- The "Sinh" & the "Salong"
1. When Laotian woman wear "sinh",they have scarves with the same decoration crossing
over their body.
2. "Salong" is the traditional costume for Laotion man. The big difference between
"Salong" and "Sinh" is that it is a big pant or peasant pant.
Lao dishes
1. Sticky rice (Khao Niaw)
-It is traditionally steamed in a cone-shape bamboo basket, and place in a covered basket where
it is eaten alongside many dishes. In Laos, there should always be sticky rice available to eat at any
time of day.
2. Minced meat salad (Larb)
-This dish type of minced meat salad, and widely considered to be the National dish of Laos.
3. Green Papaya Salad
- Green Papaya Salad is typically made with shreds of unripe papaya. It is Lao origin, but served
in different varieties around the region.
Belief system and religion
• Buddhism
- Theravada buddhism is by far the most prominent organized religion in the
country, with nearly 5,000 temples serving as the focus of religious practice as well
as the centers of community life in rural areas.
• Laotian folk religion
- Laotian folk religion (Lao: sasna phi, "religion of the spirits") is an overarching
term for the ethnic religious practiced by 30.7% of the population of Laos.
• Christianity
- Christianity is a minority religion in Lao. There are three recognised churches in
Laos: the law Evangelical Church, the sevent-day Adventist Church and the Roman
Catholic Church.
Family set-up
The Lao have large close-knit families. Often with three
generations living together. The eldest man is the patriarch of the
family and represents the household at village meetings. The Lao have
great respect for parents and elders. The family unit for the Laos is
usually a nuclear family but may include grandparents or siblings or
other relatives, usually on the wife’s side. The average household has
six to eight members. Sometimes two or more families may farm
together and share grain in a common granary.
Gender Roles
In traditional Lao society, certain tasks are associated with
members of each sex but the division of labor is not rigid. Women and
girls are usually responsible for cooking, carrying water, maintaining the
household and taking care of small domestic animals. Men are in
charge if caring for buffalo and oxen, hunting, plowing paddy fields and
clearing slash and burn fields. Both men and women plant, harvest,
thresh, carry rice and work in gardens. Most small time Lao traders are
women.
Justice/human rights
• Rape was reportedly rare, although, like most crime, it was likely underreported. The country does not
have a central database of crime, nor does it provide statistics on crime. The law criminalizes rape, with
punishment set at three to five years' imprisonment. Sentences are significantly longer and may include
capital punishment if the victim is under age 18 or is seriously injured or killed. In rape cases that were
tried in court, defendants generally were convicted with sentences ranging from three years'
imprisonment to execution.
• Domestic violence is illegal; however, there is no law against marital rape, and domestic violence often
went unreported due to social stigma. Penalties for domestic violence, including battery, torture, and
detaining persons against their will, may include both fines and imprisonment. The criminal law
granted exemption from penal liabilities in cases of physical violence without serious injury or physical
damage. LWU centers and the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare (MLSW), in cooperation with NGOs,
assisted victims of domestic violence. Statistics were unavailable on the number of abusers prosecuted,
convicted, or punished.
• Sexual harassment was rarely reported and its extent was difficult to assess. Although sexual
harassment was not illegal, "indecent sexual behavior" toward another person is illegal and punishable
by six months to three years in prison. Women and men were given equal access to diagnostic services
and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, including HIV.
• The law provides for equal rights for women, and the LWU operated nationally to promote the position
of women in society. The law prohibits legal discrimination in marriage and inheritance; however,
varying degrees of culturally based discrimination against women persisted, with greater discrimination
practiced by some hill tribes. The LWU conducted several programs to strengthen the role of women.
The programs were most effective in the urban areas. Many women occupied decision-making
positions in the civil service and private business, and in urban areas their incomes were often higher
than those of men.
Media
In mid-1994 the official media consisted of the party-sponsored
daily newspaper, Xieng Pasason (The Voice of the People) [Vientiane],
in Lao language only. Khaosan Pathet Lao (Lao News Agency), a news
service of the Committee of Information, Press, Radio and Television
Broadcasting, distributes daily bulletins in Lao, English, and French. The
National Radio of Laos, the stateowned radio service, has a national
network and seven regional stations that broadcast in Lao and tribal
languages. The four government-owned Laotian television stations
broadcast daily for a few hours each. Regional stations broadcast in Lao
and in tribal languages.
Racial origin
The lowland Lao (Lao Loum) account for 68%, upland Lao (Lao
Theung) for 22%, and the highland Lao (Lao Soung, including
the Hmong and the Yao) for 9%. Ethnic Lao, the principal lowland
inhabitants and politically and culturally dominant group, make up the
bulk of the Lao Loum and around 60% of the total population.
Terrorism
Although there’s no recent history of terrorism in Laos, attacks
can’t be ruled out. You should be aware of the global risk of
indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be in public areas, including
those frequented by expatriates and foreign travelers.
There’s a heightened threat of terrorist attack globally against UK
interests and British nationals, from groups or individuals motivated by
the conflict in Iraq and Syria. You should be vigilant at this time.
Landmark
• Dinosaur Museum and Ban Tangvai fossil beds – Savannakhet. Unique find of
fossilized bones of dinosaurs, molluscs, crocodiles, tortoises and other animals.
• Khammouane sinkholes – Khammouane. Possibly the largest concentration of
enormous sinkholes in the world, most are not explored. May hide the largest
sinkholes by volume – there are stories about sinkholes up to 230 million
m3 large!
• Nam Pha Thene depression (Khammouane) is a canyon like gorge surrounded by
up to 400 m high cliffs, total depth of valley – 600 m.
• Naga fireballs of Mekong – Nong Khai, Thailand and Vientiane Province, Laos.
Unique phenomenon – glowing reddish balls rising from the water of Mekong
River and going upwards in the air. Local people even organize festivity at late
nights of October to observe this weird sight. Sometimes there are seen
thousands of such balls over one night. It is possible that this is combustion of
gases emanating from the sediments of river.
• Nam Ou gorge at Muang Ngoy – Luang Prabang. Beautiful, narrow, forested
gorge with up to 600 m high cliffs.
Malaysia
Brief History
The first people to live in Malaya were Stone Age hunter-
gatherers. They arrived as early as 8,000 BC. Later Stone Age farmers
came to Malaya and displaced them. (The hunter-gatherers continued
to exist but they retreated into remote areas). The farmers practiced
slash and burn agriculture. They cleared an area of rain forest by
burning it then grew crops. After a few years the land would be
exhausted and the farmers would clear a new area. However within a
few years the old area would become covered in vegetation and would
become fertile again.
Types of Government
Malaysia is a federal constitutional monarchy. Its government
system closely resembles the Westminster parliamentary system while
the jurisdictions of the country are based on the common law. The
state is categorized as a representative democracy. The Federal
Government has its headquarter in Kuala Lumpur while the federal
executive of Malaysia is in Putrajaya. The federal government adheres
to and is formed by the country’s Federal Constitution which is the final
authority on the land. The federal government operates on the basis of
power separation as outlined in Article 127 of the Malaysian
Constitution. There are three branches of the federal government of
Malaysia including the executive, judiciary, and the legislature.
International relations
Malaysian foreign relations have been influenced by diverse
factors, such as anticommunism, anticolonialism, opposition to racial
discrimination, nonalignment, regional cooperation, and critical
dependence on free trade. These factors have dictated the cultivation
of friendly relations with all countries irrespective of ideological and
political differences. Pragmatism and flexibility remain essential to the
formulation and execution of foreign policy.
Material culture
One of the best ways to understand traditional Malay culture is to participate in a Malay wedding,
which is fascinating and steeped in age-old traditions. A Malay wedding begins with an 'akad
nikah' ceremony. The groom signs the marriage contract and agrees to provide the bride with a 'mas
kahwin' or dowry. On the day of the wedding, the groom arrives with his entourage of relatives and
friends. He is accompanied by musicians beating the 'kompang' ( a percussion instrument) and
followers carrying the 'bunga manggar' or palm blossoms. As they arrive at the bride�s home, the
entourage will be greeted with the sprinkling of yellow rice and scented water.
The highlight of a Malay wedding is usually the 'bersanding' ceremony, where the bridal couple will
be seated on a dais while family members, friends and well-wishers come forward to sprinkle the
couple with yellow rice and scented water as a sign of blessing. Departing guests will receive a token
of appreciation, usually in the form of a decorated egg called 'bunga telur'.
Filled with interesting rituals, the Malay wedding ceremony will make for an eventful day. In most
villages, a mock-wedding is arranged to give guests a chance to experience this merry occasion.
Material culture
-pencak silat, a fascinating Malay martial art which are performed on
official occasions or even weddings.
-The traditional shadow play theatre or wayang kulit is another interesting
performance. This show is performed by casting animated puppet
shadows on a white cloth screen. The puppet characters and stories are
usually adapted from ancient epics. The master storyteller, called Tok
Dalang, conducts the whole show from behind the screen as he recites
the tale with appropriate sounds and movements. Both silat and wayang
kulit are accompanied by traditional music.
-the tarian joget performed during joyous occasions such as weddings,
the joget involves pairs of men and women performing swift and graceful
movements.
Material culture

A typical breakfast will comprise

of 'nasi lemak', or fragrant rice Nasi Dagang Laksam
served with hard boiled egg, stir-
fried water convolvulus (locally
known as 'kangkung'), roasted
groundnuts, fried chicken, a spicy
anchovy sauce and crisp slices of
cucumber.

Keropok Lekor / Keping Ayam Goreng

Belief system and religion
In the last Malaysian census, 61.3% of Malaysian people
identified as Muslim. Another 19.8% of the population identified as
Buddhists, 9.2% as Christians and 6.3% as Hindu. A minority (1.3%)
followed traditional Chinese religions such as Taoism.
Family set-up
The links a Malaysian person maintains with extended family
overseas are much closer than those maintained by most people in
Western societies. However, some members of the younger generation
are less family orientated.
Justice/human rights
The situation of human rights in Malaysia is controversial as
there have been numerous allegations of human rights abuses in the
country. Human rights groups and foreign governments are generally
critical of the Malaysian government and the Royal Malaysian Police.
Preventive detention laws such as the Internal Security Act and the
Emergency (Public Order and Prevention of Crime) Ordinance 1969
allow for detention without trial or charge and as such are a source of
concern for human rights organisations like SUARAM
Media
The media of Malaysia include television, radio, newspapers, and web-
based media such as bloggers. Many media outlets are either owned directly by
the government of Malaysia (e.g. Bernama) or owned by component parties of
the Barisan Nasional coalition which formed the government until May 2018 (e.g.
the Media Prima group, which is owned by the United Malays National
Organisation). Another opposition party, PAS and PKR,now the main component of
the ruling "Pakatan Harapan" coalition, publish their own newspapers, respectively
Harakah and Suara Keadilan, which are openly sold alongside regular publications.
Since conventional media is so tightly controlled by the government, Malaysia has a
lively alternative media scene, characterised by such news portals
as Malaysiakini and The Malaysian Insider which take advantage of the
government's pledge not to censor the Internet despite its stranglehold on most
mass media outlets.
Racial origin
Malaysia is a mosaic of three major races; the Malay, Chinese
and Indian. In addition, the country is home to many ethnic
communities.
Landmark

Petronas tower in Kuala Lumpur Putrajaya

Malacca Langkawi
Myanmar
Brief History
Myanmar history is one of the most complex histories in Asia.
Best recollection as claimed in all Myanmar history books is that the
first civilization was in 300 BC. These are the Mon, which are not
original locals of the country but migrants from nearby places that
settled in and named their Kingdom Suwarnabhumi in the city of
Thaton. They were followed by the Pyu, who also established their own
kingdoms in the hills and plains of the now known cities of Binnaka,
Mongamo, Sri Ksetra, and Halingyi during the early 7th century. All
these time, Burma or now Myanmar was part of the overland route
from China to India.
Types of Government
The government of Myanmar, as defined by the Constitution of
2008, functions as a parliamentary republic. In this type of government,
the heads of the Cabinet are responsible for carrying out the laws set
forth by Parliament. In 2008, Myanmar established a new Constitution
and created a new form of government, which is divided into 3
branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. This article takes a closer
look at government of Myanmar.
International relations
Myanmar has generally maintained warmer relations with
neighboring states and is a member of the ASEAN.
Material culture
The traditional costume of the men is called Longchy (sewing
pants and tight pants) combined perfectly with the shirt or jacket called
Taipon (traditional clothes. Burmese women’s traditional clothes are
Thummy. Thummy is similar to Laos or Thailand’s dress. Both Burmese
women and men wear flip-flops. Besides the traditional costume,
Myanmar people wear European clothes in many occasions and when
they wear suits, they wear shoes.
Material culture
Foods
1. Mohinga
2. Mohinga, brumese cuisine
-Burmese Biryani
3. Burmese biryani
-Burmese Naan Flat-bread and Pe Byouk
4. Paratha and pe byouk
-Rice and Burmese Curry
Belief system and religion
- Buddhism (87.9%)
- Christianity (6.2%)
- Islam (4.3%)
- Hinduism (0.5%)
- Various folk religions, atheism, and other beliefs (1.1%)
Family set-up
Gender Roles
Justice/human rights
Human rights in Myanmar under its military regime have long been regarded
as among the worst in the world. International human rights organizations
including Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and the American
Association for the Advancement of Science have repeatedly documented
and condemned widespread human rights violations in Myanmar. The
Freedom in the World 2011 report by Freedom House notes that "The
military junta has suppressed nearly all basic rights; and committed human
rights abuses with impunity." In 2011 the "country's more than 2,100
political prisoners included about 429 members of the NLD, the victors in the
1990 elections“. As of July 2013, according to the Assistance Association for
Political Prisoners, there were about 100 political prisoners in Burmese
prisons
Media
The print, broadcast and online media of Burma (also known as
Myanmar) has undergone strict censorship and regulation since the
1962 Burmese coup d'état. The constitution provides for freedom of
speech and the press; however, the government prohibits the exercise
of these rights in practice. Reporters Without Borders ranked Burma
174th out of 178 in its 2010 Press Freedom Index, ahead of just Iran,
Turkmenistan, North Korea, and Eritrea. In 2015, Burma moved up to
144th place, ahead of many of its ASEAN neighbors such as Singapore,
as a result of political changes in the country.
Racial origin
The Bamar (Burmese: ဗမာလူမ ျိုး; MLCTS: ba. ma lu myui:; IPA:
[bəmà lùmjó]; also historically the Burmese and Burmans) are the
dominant ethnic group in Myanmar. Bamar people live primarily in the
Irrawaddy River basin and speak the Burmese language, which is the
official language of Myanmar. Bamar customs and identity are closely
intertwined with the broader Burmese culture. The Bamar people are
often imprecisely called "Burmese", though this term in contemporary
usage can refer to any citizen of Myanmar, regardless of ethnicity.
Terrorism
In contemporary Myanmar (formerly Burma), terrorism is
defined by the country's counter-terrorism law and its subsections,
which is interpreted by the Anti-Terrorism Central Committee and
enforced by the government of Myanmar. The only group listed as a
terrorist organization in accordance to Myanmar's counter-terrorism
law is the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), which was added on
25 August 2017. The SPDC military government labeled the Vigorous
Burmese Student Warriors (VBSW) a terrorist organization after their
role in the 1999 Myanmar Embassy siege, but the group was never
officially declared as such by law.
Landmark
• Cheduba mud volcano – Rakhine State. Enormous mud volcano, which
often erupts. It emits also seeps of oil – e.g. it is natural petroleum spring.
• Bagan temple city – Mandalay Region. An ancient temple city with 2217
temples (initially more than 5000) built mainly in the 9th – 11th centuries,
once the most important centers of Buddhism in the region. More than
300 temples contain frescoes. Served as a capital of several ancient
kingdoms. Although most of the temples are not in active use, locals
continue to use them for some religious activities. These numerous high
and beautiful buildings create a unique skyline.
• Ananda Temple – Bagan, Mandalay Region. Well preserved, 51 m tall
Buddhist temple, built in 1005. Temple has unusual architecture – a blend
of Mon and Indian architecture styles. Contains many art values.
Brief History
The Philippines is named after King Philip II of Spain (1556-1598) and it was a
Spanish colony for over 300 years.
Today the Philippines is an archipelago of 7,000 islands. However it is believed that during
the last ice age they were joined to mainland Asia by a land bridge, enabling human beings
to walk from there.
The first people in the Philippines were hunter-gatherers. However between 3,000
BC and 2,000 BC people learned to farm. They grew rice and domesticated animals. From
the 10th AD century Filipinos traded with China and by the 12th Century AD Arab
merchants reached the Philippines and they introduced Islam.
Then in 1521 Ferdinand Magellan sailed across the Pacific. He landed in the
Philippines and claimed them for Spain. Magellan baptized a chief called Humabon and
hoped to make him a puppet ruler on behalf of the Spanish crown. Magellan demanded
that other chiefs submit to Humabon but one chief named Lapu Lapu refused. Magellan
led a force to crush him. However the Spanish soldiers were scattered and Magellan was
killed.
The Spaniards did not gain a foothold in the Philippines until 1565 when Miguel
Lopez de Legazpi led an expedition, which built a fort in Cebu. Later, in 1571 the Spaniards
landed in Luzon. Here they built the city of Intramuros (later called Manila), which became
the capital of the Philippines. Spanish conquistadors marched inland and conquered Luzon.
They created a feudal system. Spaniards owned vast estates worked by Filipinos.
Types of Government
The Philippines is a republic with a presidential form of
government wherein power is equally divided among its three
branches: executive, legislative, and judicial.
International relations
• The Philippines is a founding member of the United Nations,an
elected member of the Security Council and participant in the
FAO,International Labor Organization,UNESCO and WHO.Like most
nations,the Philippines is a signatory of Interpol.
• The Philippines is a member of the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations,East Asia Summit and the Latin Union.
• Formerly a member of the now defunct SEATO.
• Member of the Non-Aligned Movement.
Material culture
• FOOD
Lechón is a pork dish in several regions of the world, most specifically
Spain and its former colonial possessions throughout the world. The
word lechón originated from the Spanish term lechón; that refers to a
suckling pig that is roasted.
Material culture
Philippine adobo (from Spanish adobar: "marinade," "sauce" or
"seasoning") is a popular Filipino dish and cooking process in Filipino
cuisine that involvesmeat, seafood, or vegetables marinated
in vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, andblack peppercorns, which is browned
in oil, and simmered in the marinade.
Material culture
Pinakbet is an indigenous Filipino dish from the northern regions of the
Philippines. Pinakbet is made from mixed vegetables steamed in fish or
shrimp sauce.
Material culture
• CLOTHES
Men's national costume. Barong tagalog (a formal garment, often made
from thin fabric and richly embroidered) is used both by men and women.
Women's national costume. Barong tagalog is as well used by women. But
there are many much more feminine and beautiful female clothing.
Belief system and religion
• Roman Catholic Christianity - 70%
• Protestant Christianity - 17%
• Islam - 5 to 10%
• Iglesia ni Cristo (Philippine Church of Christ) - 2%
• Buddhists - 2%
• Other - 6.6%
Family set-up
• The family remained the basic unit of their society.
• Even after finishing school, Filipino children are not obliged to get out of
their homes unless they want to. In fact, most of them keep their close
relationship to their parents by staying at least before they get married.
Leaving them happens only when they really have to, but usually, at least
one child, depending on his willingness and financial capabilities, stay even
after marriage to support and look after their aging parents.
• The father is considered the head and the provider of the family while the
mother takes responsibility of the domestic needs and in charge of the
emotional growth and values formation of the children.
• Unmarried adult daughters and sons typically remain in their parents'
home and contribute to family support.
Gender Roles
• Men described as the moneymaker
• Men are seen as the head of the family
• Men are dominating roles in society
• Men are brought up to take after their father or the elder man in their
life.
• Women stays at home ,taking care of the household chores and
children.
• Women is the one who controlled the family finances.
Justice/human rights
Human rights in the Philippines pertains to the concept, practice, and
issues of human rights within the Philippine archipelago. The concept of
"human rights," in the context of the Philippines, pertains mainly (but is not
limited) to the civil and political rights of a person living in the Philippines by
reason of the 1987 Philippines Constitution. Human rights are a justified set
of claims that set moral standards to members of the human race, not
exclusive to a specific community or citizenship. Membership in the human
race is the sole qualification to obtain these rights. Human rights, unlike
area-specific conventions of international laws (e.g. European Convention on
Human Rights and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and
on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights), are universally justifiable as it
pertains to the entire human race, regardless of geographical location.
Media
The Philippines had 225 television stations, 369 AM radio
broadcast stations, 583 FM radio broadcast stations, 10 internet radio
stations, 5 shortwave stations and 7 million newspapers in circulation.
Some media outlets, such as IBC (television) and the Philippine
Broadcasting Service (radio), are government-run. Most outlets are
privately owned.
The most widely read newspapers are the Manila Bulletin, The
Philippine Star, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Business Mirror,
and BusinessWorld.
Racial origin
Filipinos (Pilipino) are the people who are native to, or identified
with the country of the Philippines. Filipinos come from
various ethnolinguistic groups that are native to the island country.
Currently, there are more than 175 ethnolinguistic groups, each
with its own language, identity, culture and history. The
modern Filipino identity, with its Austronesian roots, was developed in
conjunction with Spanish, Chinese and American influences.
Terrorism
Terrorism is a major social issue in the Philippines and is linked to
the Moro conflict and CPP-NPA-NDF rebellion.
Landmark

Malacañan Palace, Manila Banaue Rice Terraces, Ifugao

MacArthur Landing Memorial National Park,

Leyte Luneta and Intramuros, Manila
Landmark

Mayon Volcano, Albay

Brief history
The written history of Singapore may date back to the third
century. Evidence suggests that a significant trading settlement existed
in Singapore during the 14th century. In the late 14th
century, Singapore was under the rule of Parameswara until he was
expelled by the Majapahit or the Siamese. It then came under
the Malacca Sultanate and then the Johor Sultanate. In 1819, Sir
Thomas Stamford Raffles negotiated a treaty whereby Johor allowed
the British to locate a trading port on the island, leading to the
establishment of the British colony of Singapore in 1819.
Types of Government
Constitution Of Singapore
The Constitution of Singapore is the country’s supreme law and has
been in effect since its enactment on December 22nd, 1965. Articles from
the Constitution were drawn from provisions in three statutes; the Republic
of Singapore Independence Act (1965), the Constitution of the State of
Singapore (1963), and the Federal Constitution of Malaysia. All other laws in
the land are subordinate to the constitution. The National Assembly has the
authority to amend most provisions of the constitution through a majority
vote. However, some critical provisions can only be amended through a
national referendum.
Types of Government
• The Executive Branch Of The Government Of Singapore
The Constitution of Singapore defines the Government of Singapore
as the executive branch and is composed of the President, the Prime
Minister, and the Cabinet.
• Legislative Branch Of The Government Of Singapore
The Parliament of Singapore is the legislative branch of government
which is a unicameral (single-chambered) parliament. The Parliament in the
country is mandated to create laws as well as make amendments to certain
provisions of the Constitution.
• Judicial Branch Of The Government Of Singapore
The Judiciary of Singapore is the arm of government responsible for
the administration of justice
International relations
Relations with China
Singapore’s bilateral relationship with China is built on the strong
foundations laid by Mr Lee Kuan Yew and Mr Deng Xiaoping, and both
countries are currently exploring ways to deepen cooperation in China’s "Belt
and Road" initiative after a Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation (JCBC)
meeting.
Relations with United States
While there are some inevitable uncertainties with a new administration,
Singapore will be adaptable in developing win-win partnerships with the US,
and continue to build on developments in areas such as trade and defense.
Relations with ASEAN
Singapore’s relations with Malaysia marked a new milestone with the signing
of the Agreement on the KL-Singapore High Speed Rail (HSR) in December
2016, which will transform the way both countries interact and do business.
Material culture
Food in Daily Life. Rice, fish, chicken, and vegetables are the staples.
When these ingredients are mixed with a rich variety of spices, chilis,
coconuts, lime, and tamarind, the variations are endless. Food is often eaten
outside the home in food centers where food is cheap, tasty, and freshly
made. There are many cafés, coffeehouses and teahouses, and formal
restaurants. Forks and spoons are used, but Chinese food is eaten with
chopsticks, and Indian and Malay food may be eaten with the hand. The
three main meals are breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Most meals are eaten hot.
Malays do not eat pork, Indians do not eat beef, and many Buddhist Chinese
are part-time vegetarians. Many people do not drink alcohol.
Food Customs at Ceremonial Occasions. Special dishes are eaten
during the major ceremonial occasions of all three ethnic groups, but none
are connected to national celebrations.
Belief system and religion
- Buddhism
- Islam
- Hinduism
- Christianity
- Taoism
Gender Roles
Media
The Media of Singapore refers to mass communication methods
through broadcasting, publishing, and the Internet available in the city-
state. Singapore's media environment is considered to be highly
controlled by the government. Comprising the publishing, print,
broadcasting, film, music, digital, and IT media sectors, the media
industry collectively employed about 38,000 people and contributed
1.56% to Singapore's gross domestic product (GDP) in 2001 with an
annual turnover of $10 billion. The industry grew at an average rate of
7.7% annually from 1990 to 2000, and the government seeks to
increase its GDP contribution to 3% by 2012.
Racial origin
Singaporeans or Singapore people are citizens of the city-
state of Singapore – a multi-racial and multi-cultural country
with Singaporean Chinese, Indians, and Malays historically making up
the vast majority of the population, who descended from various
ethnic groups of China, South Asia (mainly India), and the Malay
Archipelago.
Terrorism
Terrorists are likely to try to carry out attacks in Singapore. Attacks
could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreigners. The
Singaporean government has put in place extensive measures to combat
terrorism and has arrested a number of terrorist suspects.
There’s a heightened threat of terrorist attack globally against UK
interests and British nationals, from groups or individuals motivated by the
conflict in Iraq and Syria. You should be vigilant at this time.
Find out more about the global threat from terrorism, how to minimize your
risk and what to do in the event of a terrorist attack.
Landmark
Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay

CHIJMES

Singapore Flyer
Merlion Park
Landmark

Old Parliament House National Gallery Singapore

The Fullerton Hotel Singapore Helix Bridge

Brief History
The Thai people established their own states in the early 20th
century, with the Ayutthaya kingdom showing itself to be the most
dominant for a time. The states were all constantly threatened by the
Khmers, Burma, and Vietnam, not to mention the presence of the
French and British who were vying for colonies in Southeast Asia at the
time. When European colonial powers threatened in the 19th and 20th
centuries, Thailand managed to escape as the only country not to fall
under colonial rule.
Types of Government
The country is a constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary
democracy. The government of Thailand is a unitary government . The
constitutional monarchy replaced the absolute monarchy after the
Revolution of 1932.
The king exercises sovereignty through the three branches of
government. Executive, Legislative and Judiciary.
International relations
Thailand has been playing a proactive role in both bi-lateral and
multi-lateral framework of cooperation. Thailand As a founding
member of the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Material culture
-Sanuk is a wide-reaching idea that embodies the playfulness and sense
of humor that is so central to life in Thailand.
-Thai cooking relies on lightly prepared dishes with strong aromatic
components. The four main components of the cuisine are salty, spicy,
sweet and sour.Thai meals typically consist of rice (khao in Thai) .
-Tom Yum Goong (Spicy Shrimp Soup)
-Traditional Thai clothing is called chut thai, which literally means "Thai
outfit". It can be worn by men, women, and children.
Belief system and religion
Majority of Thai people are practitioners of Theravada Buddhism,
the official religion of Thailand. About 93.6 percent of all the people in
Thailand are Buddhists (nearly all of them Theravada Buddhists). About
4.6 percent of the population is Muslim.Christians make up 0.9 percent
of the population; Hindus, 0.1 percent; and Sikhs, Baha’i Faith, and
others, 0.6 percent.
Family set-up
In Thailand, a family is usually consists of a nuclear family with a
couple of additional members, that can include grandparents, uncles,
aunts, cousins and children of spouses.
Gender Roles
- Thailand has an extremely progressive and tolerant view toward
homosexuality
-Thai women were never treated as equal as men were. The women’s
roles are much less valued in society then the men, which leads them
to feel less important.
Justice/human rights
The 2007 Constitution guarantees the human dignity, rights and
liberties and equality of the people.
- Law Reform Commission, the Parliamentary Committee on Justice and
Human Rights, etc.
Media
Thai media as relatively free, at least by Southeast Asian
standards, in fact the Thai state government and the military have
always exercised considerable control, especially over radio and TV
stations.
Racial origin
The Thai people are thought to have originated in the southern Chinese
province of Yunnan.
Terrorism
There were explosions in Bangkok in April and May 2017, and
there were multiple explosions and incidents in tourist areas across
Thailand in August 2016.”
Bangkok and Manila vowed to cooperate more closely in staving
off growing security threats from terrorism and transnational criminals
when Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s visited Thailand
Landmark
-Wat Rong Khun, or the White Temple, is one of the most fascinating
and spectacular landmarks in Thailand.
-Wat Arun, or the Temple of Dawn, is a Buddhist temple found in
Bangkok.
Brief History
From 1520 to 1914 the island of Timor was ruled by the Portuguese.
Thus, the island was divided into an eastern part, today Timor-Leste, where
the Portuguese remained and a western part becoming part of the Dutch
East Indies, which is today known as Indonesia.
In 1975 when Portugal became independent, Indonesian troops
invaded East-Timor and occupied the country. For 24 years the Timorese
suffered under this occupation until Timor-Leste did the first steps towards
independence in 1999. This in turn displeased the Indonesian occupying
power, which then destroyed large parts of the country. Because of these
acts of violence, the United Nations acted and took over the temporary
administration until 20 May 2002, when the state East-Timor was founded.
Types of Government
The government of Timor-Leste is a unitary semi-presidential
republic, which means the president is the head of state and the prime
minister is the head of government. Divided into three branches of
government: Executive, Legislative and Judiciary. East Timor or Timor
Leste has a multi-party system.
International relations
Timor Leste pursued membership in the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN) and became a member of the ASEAN Regional
Forum (ARF) in July 2005.
Material culture
Men traditionally wear the tais mane (or "man's cloth"), a single
large wrap around the waist usually finished with tassels. Women wear
the tais feto ("women's cloth"), a form of strapless dress woven in the
shape of a tube.
- Feijoada – A common dish of former Portuguese colonies, it is made
with pork, cannellini beans and chorizo.
Belief system and religion
96.8 percent of the population is Catholic, 2.2 percent
Protestant, and less than 1 percent Muslim.
Family set-up
Extended families is the family set up that exist in the Timor-
Leste traditional structure
Gender Roles
Timor-Leste is a patriarchal society in which social norms and
cultural values influence gender roles.
Justice/human rights
National Human Rights Institution of the Democratic Republic of
Timor-Leste.
Media
Having enjoyed freedom of the press and freedom of expression
in the past 10 years as guaranteed under Timor Leste Constitution's
article 40 and article 41, the 5th Constitutional Government
established in 2012
Racial origin
Nearly everyone in Timor-Leste (East Timor) is ethnically
Timoran, which is an ethnic group that contains traces of Papuan and
Chinese, but is primarily a part of the Malaysian branch of the
Polynesian ethnic group.
Terrorism
-There's no recent history of terrorism in Timor- Leste.
-Security has been stepped up following warnings of a terrorist threat
Landmark
*Mare Naun Nura Springs – Aileu. Group of hot springs with water
temperature 55 – 62 °C. Water is bubbling, has slight odor.
*Mota Bandeira Falls – Ermera. Impressive waterfall – a stream falls
down a vertical cliff.
Vietnam
• Brief History
The name Vietnam originated in 1803 when envoys from the newly
founded Nguyen dynasty traveled to Beijing to establish diplomatic relations
with the Chinese court. The new emperor had chosen the name Nam Viet for
his kingdom. The word Viet he derived from the traditional name for the
Vietnamese imperial domain and its people in what is now northern and
central Vietnam. Nam (south) had been added to acknowledge the
expansion of the dynasty's domain into lands to the south. The Chinese
objected to this new name because it was the same as an ancient state that
had rebelled against Chinese rule. They therefore changed it to Viet Nam.
Vietnamese officials resented the change and it did not attain public
acceptance until the late 1800s.
Types of Government
Vietnam has a communist government and is one of the four
remaining one-party socialist states in the world today. The president is
the head of the republic, and the prime minister is the head of the
government. It has three branches, the executive which is administered
by the government and the president, the legislative which consists of
the national assembly of Vietnam and the judiciary comprises of the
courts.
International relations
Vietnam has diplomatic relations with 160 countries. Vietnam is
a member of the Asian Development Bank, the Asia-Pacific Economic
Cooperation forum, the International Monetary Fund, the United
Nations, and the World Health Organization. Reflecting Vietnam’s
recognition of its place in the global economy, in 1995 Vietnam joined
the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Vietnam became a
member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2006
Material culture
CLOTHING
The ao dai is popularly considered the national dress. It consists of a long tunic-like
gown with splits on the sides that go up to the waist. It is worn over trousers that
almost touch the floor. The ao dai used to be worn by men and women but now is
almost exclusively a feminine attire often made to fit the body.
FOOD
Vietnam food culture is formed in the natural lifestyle. It is not just a feature of
material culture, but also a spiritual feature. Through the features of cuisine, people’s
qualification and dignities, etiquettes and customs in food will be reflected.
Vietnam is an agriculture-based country, thus, Vietnam food culture is influenced by
the Wet Rice Civilization for thousands of years. Rice plays an important role in life of
Vietnamese people. Besides, as being located in South East Asia with favorable
conditions of nature, climate and geography, Vietnamese people has been produce an
abundance of eatables, which provides good conditions for the creativity of cuisine in
Vietnam.
PHO is a Vietnamese soup consisting of broth, rice noodles called bánh phở, a few
herbs, and meat, primarily made with either beef or chicken .Pho is a popular street
food in Vietnam and the specialty of a number of restaurant chains around the world.
Material culture
Marriage
Traditional marriage rituals include two ceremonies. The first in an
engagement celebration in which the groom and family visit the bride and
family and bring them presents. Both families decide the date for the
wedding. The nuptial ceremony includes another visit to the bride's house
to take her to the groom's place. There, the couple prays at an altar, the
union is consecrated, and a reception is held.
Belief system and religion
Buddhism is the main religion in Vietnam and both the
Theravada and the Mahayana currents coexist. Confucianism, Taoism
and Catholicism are also present, with a smaller number of followers.
Family set-up
Relationships in Vietnamese family are more complicated than
those of Western countries. The majority of families in Vietnam are
extended families as many generations co-live to take care of each
other. Family in Vietnam looks similar to a system of mini society with
the most elderly having the strongest voice and taking charge of most
activities in house.
Gender Roles
Women are arguably given more respect in Vietnam than in
other countries. Vietnam was once a matriarchy and there are large
number of great women heros. Women played a big role in the
Vietnam War. They served as combat soldiers and did a lot of the work
on the communes, in factories and at home while men were away
fighting. Traditionally Vietnamese men have dominated the family,
decided how money was spent, determined the size of a family and
possessed property in their name. They have also traditionally men
dominated public affairs, the professions and agriculture. In the old
days Vietnam men often did hard labor, such as carrying 140-pound
baskets of crushed stones, in other counties.
Justice/human rights
Vietnam’s human rights record remains dire in all areas. The
Communist Party maintains a monopoly on political power and allows
no challenge to its leadership. Basic rights, including freedom of
speech, opinion, press, association, and religion, are restricted. Rights
activists and bloggers face harassment, intimidation, physical assault,
and imprisonment. Farmers continue to lose land to development
projects without adequate compensation, and workers are not allowed
to form independent unions. The police use torture and beatings to
extract confessions. The criminal justice system lacks independence.
Media
Local stations in Vietnam includes Hanoi Radio Television and Ho
Chi Minh City Television (HTV). The latter is available over most of
the Mekong Delta.
Racial origin
As with many other Asian nations, the concept of face is
extremely important to the Vietnamese.Face is a tricky concept to
explain but can be roughly described a quality that reflects a person's
reputation, dignity, and prestige.
Terrorism
Although there’s little history of terrorism in Vietnam - the only
incident in recent years concerned a failed attempt to ignite small
incendiary devices at Ho Chi Minh City airport - attacks can’t be ruled
out. You should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist
attacks which could be in public areas, including those visited by
foreigners.
There’s a heightened threat of terrorist attack globally against UK
interests and British nationals, from groups or individuals motivated by
the conflict in Iraq and Syria. You should be vigilant at this time.
Landmark
Halong Bay is a beautiful natural wonder in northern Vietnam
near the Chinese border. The Bay is dotted with 1,600 limestone islands
and islets and covers an area of over 1,500 sqkm. This extraordinary
area was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994.