Indochina

From Freepedia

Indochina, or the Indochinese Peninsula, is a large peninsula in Southeast Asia. It lies roughly east of India, south of China, culturally influenced by both - hence the name.

Indochina comprises the territory of the following countries:

• in strict sense, only the former (colonial) French Indochina :
  • Cambodia
  • Vietnam
  • Laos
• in the wider sense, better described as Mainland Southeast Asia, it includes furthermore :
  • Myanmar, formerly known as Burma and attached to (British) India until 1937
  • Peninsular Malaysia (not Sabah or Sarawak states, which share the island of Borneo with Brunei and Indonesia, or the federal territory of Labuan)
  • Thailand (formerly Siam)

The main religion in this region is Theravada or Hinayana Buddhism. Mahayana Buddhism is predominant in Vietnam, while Malaysia is a multi-religious nation, with Islam as the main religion, and Buddhist, Hindu, and Christian as major minorities.

See also

• ASEAN
• Malay Peninsula
• Maritime Southeast Asia
• East Indies