Indochina
Indochina, or the
Indochinese Peninsula, is a
region in
Southeast Asia. It lies roughly east of
India, south of
China, culturally influenced by both â€" hence the name (more specifically Vietnam harnessing the Chinese influence and Cambodia, Laos and Thailand the Indian influence).
Note that the term
Sino-Indian is used to describe things relating to
India and
China. (eg.
Sino-Indian relations). The term Indochina is exclusively used to denote the region that comprises modern-day Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam.
Indochina comprises the territory of the following countries:
* in strict sense, only the former colonial
French Indochina:
**
Cambodia**
Laos**
Vietnam * in the wider sense, better described as
Mainland Southeast Asia, it includes furthermore:
**
Peninsular Malaysia (comprising the southern end of the
Malay peninsula but none of the
Malay islands)
**
Myanmar (formerly
Burma and part of
British India until
1937)
**
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.
*
ASEAN*
East Indies*
French Indochina*
Malay Peninsula*
Maritime Southeast Asia
