BRUNIE

Brunei officially the Nation of Brunei, the

Abode of Peace is a country located on the
north coast of the island of Borneo in
Southeast Asia. Brunei is the only sovereign
state completely on the island of Borneo; the
remainder of the island's territory is divided
between the nations of Malaysia and
Indonesia.
(https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brunei)

ECONOMIC TYPE
Brunei's political system is governed by the constitution and the national tradition of the
Malay Islamic Monarchy. The three components of MIB cover Malay culture, Islamic religion,
and the political framework under the monarchy. It has a legal system based on English
common law, although Islamic law (shariah) supersedes this in some cases. Brunei has a
parliament but there are no elections; the last election was held in 1962.

CULTURE
The culture of Brunei is predominantly Malay (reflecting its ethnicity), with heavy
influences from Islam, but is seen as much more conservative than Indonesia and Malaysia.
Influences to Bruneian culture come from the Malay cultures of the Malay Archipelago. Four
periods of cultural influence have occurred, animist, Hindu, Islamic, and Western. Islam had a
very strong influence, and was adopted as Brunei's ideology and philosophy.

HISTORIES
The settlement known as Vijayapura was a colony to the Buddhist Srivijaya empire and
was thought to be located in Borneo's Northwest which flourished in the 7th Century. In the
aftermath of the Indian Chola invasion of Srivijaya, Datu Puti lead some dissident datus from
Sumatra and Borneo in a rebellion against Rajah Makatunao who was a Chola appointed local
Rajah. The dissidents and their retinue tried to revive Srivijaya in a new country called Madja-as
in the Visayas islands (an archipelago named after Srivijaya) in the Philippines. One of the
earliest Chinese records of an independent kingdom in Borneo is the 977 AD letter to Chinese
emperor from the ruler of Po-ni, which some scholars believe to refer to Borneo.
LANGUAGES

 Malay (official)
 English
 Chinese Dialects

EDUCATION SYSTEM
Brunei follows a 7-3-2-2 pattern of education. This means that there are seven years of
primary education (including one year of preschool), followed by a public examination known
as the Primary Certificate of Education. Lower secondary education is for three years, followed
by another public examination, the Lower Secondary Assessment examination. Based on the
performance of an individual student and following the ninth year of schooling, he or she will
be tracked into one of two streams. One stream leads to technical or vocational education that
prepares the student for immediate skill-based employment after graduation; such education is
provided at a number of technical and vocational institutes described below. The other
"academic" stream leads to two or three years of upper secondary education culminating in the
student's appearance in the Brunei-Cambridge General Certificate of Education (GCE)
examination at either the O- (Ordinary, similar to its British secondary school counterpart) or N-
Levels.

TYPE OF MONEY

 Brunei (BND)

FLAGSHIP PRODUCT
  Petroleum Gas
 Crude Petroleum
 Oils and Alcohol

TOURIST SPOT

Brunei Museums

CAMBODIA
 Cambodia is a Southeast
Asian nation whose landscape spans
low-lying plains, the Mekong Delta,
mountains and Gulf of Thailand
coastline. Phnom Penh, its capital, is
home to the art deco Central
Market, glittering Royal Palace and
the National Museum's historical
and archaeological exhibits. In the
country's northwest are the ruins of
Angkor Wat, a massive stone temple complex built during the Khmer Empire.
( https://www.google.com/search?client=ms-android-cherrymobile&bih)

ECONOMIC TYPE
The economy of Cambodia currently follows an open market system (market economy)
and has seen rapid economic progress in the last decade. Cambodia had a GDP of $24.57 billion
in 2018. Per capita income, although rapidly increasing, is low compared with most neighboring
countries. Cambodia's two largest industries are textiles and tourism, while agricultural
activities remain the main source of income for many Cambodians living in rural areas. The
service sector is heavily concentrated on trading activities and catering-related services.

CULTURES
Various factors contribute to the Cambodian culture including Theravada Buddhism,
Hinduism, French colonialism, Angkorian culture, and modern globalization. The Cambodian
Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts is responsible for promoting and developing Cambodian
culture.

HISTORIES
The Khmer (Cambodian) empire reached its apex in the 12th century, a time marked by
the construction of the massive temple complexes known as Angkor Wat and Bayon and the
imperial capital of Angkor Thom. Following 400 years of decline, Cambodia became a French
colony and during the 20th century experienced the turmoil of war, occupation by the
Japanese, postwar independence, and political instability. Between 1975 and 1979 the country
was devastated by the reign of the Khmer Rouge, a rural communist guerrilla movement.
During the Khmer Rouge’s period of power, at least 1.5 million Cambodians were killed or died,
a monumental tragedy from which the country still suffers. Cambodia began the process of
recovery under the Vietnam-backed regime of the People’s Republic of Kampuchea (1979–89),
and in the 1990s it regained political autonomy, reestablished a constitutional government, and
subsequently instituted free elections.
( https://www.britannica.com/place/Cambodia)

LANGUUAGES

 Khmer (official)
 English
 French

EDUCATION SYSTEM
Education in Cambodia before the Khmer Rouge Regime mirrored the French system.
Today, it is six years of primary school (grades 1-6), three years of lower secondary school
(grades 7-9), and three years of upper secondary school (grades 10-12), following more of a
westernised educational model. According to UNESCO, only 1.6 per cent of Cambodia’s Gross
Domestic Product (GNP) is spent on education.
(https://m.phnompenhpost.com/columns/education-and-its-role-cambodia)

TYPE OF MONEY

 Cambodian
Riel

FLAGSHIP PRODUCT

 Tobacco
 Clothing
 Footwear
TOURIST SPOT

Silver Pagoda

Preah Vihear

INDONESIA
It is the world's largest island
country, with more than seventeen
thousand islands, and at 1,904,569
square kilometers (735,358 square miles), the 14th largest by land area and 7th in the
combined sea and land area. With over 267 million people, it is the world's 4th most populous
country as well as the most populous Muslim-majority country. Java, the world's most
populous island, is home to more than half of the country's population.

ECONOMIC TYPE
Indonesia has a mixed economic system which includes a variety of private freedom,
combined with centralized economic planning and government regulation. Indonesia is a
member of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN).
(https://globaledge.msu.edu/countries/indonesia)

CULTURES
The cultural history of the Indonesian archipelago spans more than two millennia.
Influences from the Indian subcontinent, mainland China, the Middle East, Europe, and the
Austronesian peoples have historically shaped the cultural, linguistic and religious make-up of
the archipelago. As a result, modern-day Indonesia has a multicultural, multilingual and multi-
ethnic society, with a complex cultural mixture that differs significantly from the original
indigenous cultures.
(https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indonesia)

HISTORIES
The history of the Indonesian archipelago has been influenced by foreign powers drawn
to its natural resources. It has been a valuable region for trade since at least the 7th century
when Srivijaya and then later Majapahit traded with entities from mainland China and the
Indian subcontinent. Local rulers gradually absorbed foreign influences from the early centuries
and Hindu and Buddhist kingdoms flourished. Muslim traders and Sufi scholars brought Islam,
while European powers brought Christianity and fought one another to monopolies trade in the
Spice Islands of Maluku during the Age of Discovery. Although sometimes interrupted by the
Portuguese, French and British, the Dutch were the foremost European power for much of their
350-year presence in the archipelago.
LANGUAGES

 Indonesian
 National Language
 Local Dialects (Javanese)

EDUCATION SYSTEM
Education in Indonesia falls under the responsibility of the Ministry of Education and
Culture (Kementerian Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan or Kemdikbud) and the Ministry of Religious
Affairs (Kementerian Agama or Kemenag). In Indonesia, all citizens must undertake twelve years
of compulsory education which consists of six years at elementary level and three each at
middle and high school levels. Islamic schools are under the responsibility of the Ministry of
Religious Affairs.
(https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Indonesia)

TYPE OF MONEY

 Indonesian Rupiah (IDR)

FLAGSHIP PRODUCT

 Spices
 Oil
 Cocoa

TOURIST SPOT

Lake Toba
 Mount Bromo

LAOS

Laos is a Southeast Asian

country traversed by the Mekong
River and known for mountainous
terrain, French colonial
architecture, hill tribe settlements
and Buddhist monasteries.
Vientiane, the capital, is the site of
the That Luang monument, where a reliquary reportedly houses the Buddha’s breastbone, plus
the Patuxai war memorial and Talat Sao (Morning Market), a complex jammed with food,
clothes and craft stalls.
(https://www.google.com/search?)

ECONOMIC TYPE
The Lao economy depends heavily on investment and trade with its neighbors, Thailand,
Vietnam, and, especially in the north, China.[citation needed] Pakxe has also experienced
growth based on cross-border trade with Thailand and Vietnam.[citation needed] In 2009,
despite the fact that the government is still officially communist, the Obama administration in
the US declared Laos was no longer a Marxist–Leninist state and lifted bans on Laotian
companies receiving financing from the US Export-Import Bank.[108] In 2011, the Lao Securities
Exchange began trading.[citation needed] In 2012, the government initiated the creation of the
Laos Trade Portal, a website incorporating all information traders need to import and export
goods into the country.[citation needed].Subsistence agriculture still accounts for half of the
GDP and provides 80 percent of employment.[citation needed] Only 4.01 percent of the
country is arable land, and a mere 0.34 percent used as permanent crop land,[110] the lowest
percentage in the Greater Mekong Subregion.[Laos is rich in mineral resources and imports
petroleum and gas.[citation needed] Metallurgy is an important industry, and the government
hopes to attract foreign investment to develop the substantial deposits of coal, gold, bauxite,
tin, copper, and other valuable metals.
(https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laos)

CULTURES
Theravada Buddhism is a dominant influence in Lao culture.[citation needed] It is
reflected throughout the country from language to the temple and in art, literature, performing
arts, etc.[citation needed] Many elements of Lao culture predate Buddhism, Sinh is a traditional
garment worn by Laotian women in daily life.[citation needed] It is a hand-woven silk skirt that
can identify the woman who wears it in a variety of ways.[citation needed] In particular, it can
indicate which region the wearer is from.[citation needed]Football has become the most
popular sport in Laos. Polygamy is officially a crime in Laos, though the penalty is minor

HISTORIES
Laos traces its history to the kingdom of Lan Xang (Million Elephants), which was
founded in the 14th century by a Lao prince, Fa Ngum, whose father had his family exiled from
the Khmer Empire. Fa Ngum, with 10,000 Khmer troops, conquered many Lao principalities in
the Mekong River Basin, culminating in the capture of Vientiane. Ngum was descended from a
long line of Lao kings that traced back to Khoun Boulom. He made Theravada Buddhism the
state religion and Lan Xang prospered. Within 20 years of its formation, the kingdom expanded
eastward to Champa and along the Annamite mountains in Vietnam.

LANGUAGES

 Lao (official language)

 Primary Dialects (Vientane, Northern Lao, North Eastern Lao, Central Lao, and Southern
Lao

EDUCATION SYSTEM
Traditional temple schools built in the 1600’s to educate young boys were instrumental
in increasing basic literacy in Laos. The current literacy rate is estimated at 50%.
Schools weren’t open to all ethnic groups until 1975.

TYPE OF MONEY

 Lao Kip

FLAGSHIP PRODUCT

 Wood Products
 Coffee
 Gold
TOURIST SPOT

Wat Phu
 Pha That
Luang

MALAYSIA

Malaysia is a Southeast Asian country occupying

parts of the Malay Peninsula and the island of
Borneo. It's known for its beaches, rainforests
and mix of Malay, Chinese, Indian and European
cultural influences. The capital, Kuala Lumpur, is
home to colonial buildings, busy shopping
districts such as Bukit Bintang and skyscrapers such as the iconic, 451m-tall Petronas Twin
Towers.

ECONOMIC TYPE
Malaysia has a highly open, upper-middle-income economy. Malaysia today has a
diversified economy and has become a leading exporter of electrical appliances, electronic
parts and components, palm oil, and natural gas. The pragmatic business policies that the
government has adopted have created a business environment with opportunities for growth
and profits that have made Malaysia an attractive manufacturing and export base in the region
bolstered by relatively low costs due to the competitive Malaysian ringgit.

CULTURES
Malaysia has a multi-ethnic, multicultural, and multilingual society. The original culture
of the area stemmed from indigenous tribes that inhabited it, along with the Malays who later
moved there. Substantial influence exists from Chinese and Indian culture, dating back to when
foreign trade began. Other cultural influences include the Persian, Arabic, and British cultures.
Due to the structure of the government, coupled with the social contract theory, there has
been minimal cultural assimilation of ethnic minorities.

HISTORIES
In the Second World War, the Japanese Army invaded and occupied Malaya, North
Borneo, Sarawak, and Singapore for over three years. During this time, ethnic tensions were
raised and nationalism grew. Popular support for independence increased after Malaya was
reconquered by Allied forces. Post-war British plans to unite the administration of Malaya
under a single crown colony called the "Malayan Union" met with strong opposition from the
Malays, who opposed the weakening of the Malay rulers and the granting of citizenship to the
ethnic Chinese. The Malayan Union, established in 1946, and consisting of all the British
possessions in the Malay Peninsula with the exception of Singapore, was quickly dissolved and
replaced on 1 February 1948 by the Federation of Malaya, which restored the autonomy of the
rulers of the Malay states under British protection.

LANGUAGES

 Malay (official language)

 English

EDUCATION SYSTEM
The education system is divided into preschool education, primary education,
secondary education, post-secondary education and tertiary education. It is further divided into
public and private education. Education may be obtained from the multilingual public school
system, which provides free education for all Malaysians, or private schools, or through
homeschooling. International and private institutions charge school fees. By law, primary
education is compulsory. As in many Asia-Pacific countries such as the Republic of Korea,
Singapore and Japan, standardized tests are a common feature. Currently, there are 43
universities, 31 private university colleges, 9 foreign university branch campuses and 414
private colleges in Malaysia.

TYPE OF MONEY
 Ringgit (MYR)
FLAGSHIP PRODUCT

 Textiles
 Durian Chocolate
 Instant white coffee

TOURIST SPOT
Manukan Island

Malaysian Borneo

MYANMAR

Myanmar (formerly
Burma) is a Southeast
Asian nation of more than
100 ethnic groups,
bordering India,
Bangladesh, China, Laos
and Thailand. Yangon
(formerly Rangoon), the
country's largest city, is
home to bustling markets,
numerous parks and lakes, and the towering, gilded Shwedagon Pagoda, which contains
Buddhist relics and dates to the 6th century.
(https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myanmar)

ECONOMIC TYPE
 Burma now has a mixed economy with a private, state, and a joint private-state sector.
Agriculture, light industries, and other businesses are in the private sector. Heavy industries
that require huge capital investment are in the state sector. The economic reforms of the last
decade sought to promote joint ventures between private Burmese and foreign firms.
(https://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/economies/Asia-and-the-Pacific/Burma-Myanmar-
OVERVIEW-OF-ECONOMY.html)

CULTURES
A diverse range of indigenous cultures exist in Myanmar, with majority culture primarily
Buddhist and Bamar. Bamar culture has been influenced by the cultures of neighboring
countries, manifested in its language, cuisine, music, dance and theatre. The arts, particularly
literature, have historically been influenced by the local form of Theravada Buddhism.
Considered the national epic of Myanmar, the Yama Zatdaw, an adaptation of India's
Ramayana, has been influenced greatly by Thai, Mon, and Indian versions of the play. Buddhism
is practiced along with nat worship, which involves elaborate rituals to propitiate one from a
pantheon of 37 nats.

HISTORIES
Archaeological evidence shows that Homo erectus lived in the region now known as
Myanmar as early as 750,000 years ago, with no more erectus finds after 75,000 years ago. The
first evidence of Homo sapiens is dated to about 25,000 BP with discoveries of stone tools in
central Myanmar. Evidence of Neolithic age domestication of plants and animals and the use of
polished stone tools dating to sometime between 10,000 and 6,000 BC has been discovered in
the form of cave paintings in Padah-Lin Caves.

LANGUAGES

 Burmese (Official Language)

 Kaya
 Kachin

EDUCATION SYSTEM
 The educational system of Myanmar (also known as Burma) is operated by the
government Ministry of Education. Universities and professional institutes from upper Burma
and lower Burma are run by two separate entities, the Departments of Higher Education (Lower
Burma and Upper Burma), whose office headquarters are in Yangon and Mandalay respectively.
The education system is based on the United Kingdom's system, due to nearly a century of
British and Christian presences in Burma.

TYPE OF MONEY

 Kyat (MMK)

FLAGSHIP PRODUCT

 Natural gas
 Wood products
 Jade and gems

TOURIST SPOT

Ngapali
Taung Kalat

PHILIPPINES

The Philippines
or Filipinas, officially
the Republic of the
Philippines (Filipino:
Republika ng
Pilipinas), is an
archipelagic country
in Southeast Asia.
Situated in the
western Pacific Ocean, it consists of about 7,641 islands that are broadly categorized under
three main geographical divisions from north to south: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. The
capital city of the Philippines is Manila and the most populous city is Quezon City, both part of
Metro Manila. Bounded by the South China Sea on the west, the Philippine Sea on the east and
the Celebes Sea on the southwest, the Philippines shares maritime borders with Taiwan to the
north, Japan to the northeast, Vietnam to the west, Palau to the east, and Malaysia and
Indonesia to the south.

ECONOMIC TYPE
The Philippines has a mixed economic system which includes a variety of private freedom,
combined with centralized economic planning and government regulation. Philippines is a
member of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the Association of Southeast
Asian Nations (ASEAN).
(https://globaledge.msu.edu/countries/philippines)

CULTURES
Filipino culture is a combination of Eastern and Western cultures. The Philippines
exhibits aspects found in other Asian countries with a Malay heritage, yet its culture also
displays a significant number of Spanish and American influences. Traditional festivities known
as barrio fiestas (district festivals) to commemorate the feast days of patron saints are
common, these community celebrations are times for feasting, music, and dancing. The Ati-
Atihan, Moriones and Sinulog festivals are a couple of the most well-known.

HISTORIES
Journalist Alan Robles has opined, "Colonialism created the Philippines, shaped its
political culture and continues to influence its mindset. The 333 years under Spain and nearly
five decades under the USA decisively molded the nation". Anthropologist Prospero Covar has
observed, "Our thinking, culture, and psychology became virtually westernized, when we were,
in fact, Asians.

LANGUAGES

 Filipino (official language)

 English

EDUCATION SYSTEM
Several government agencies are involved with education. The Department of Education
covers elementary, secondary, and non-formal education. The Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority (TESDA) administers post-secondary, middle-level education training
and development. The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) supervises college and
graduate academic programs and degrees as well as regulates standards in higher education.
The University of the Philippines, a system of eight (8) constituent universities, is the national
university system of the Philippines

TYPE OF MONEY

 Peso (PHP)
FLAGSHIP PRODUCT

 Coconut
 Lakan “Lambanog”
 Palm oil

TOURIST SPOT

Danjugan
Island

Bonbon Beach

SINGAPORE

Singapore, an island
city-state off southern
Malaysia, is a global financial center with a tropical climate and multicultural population. Its
colonial core centers on the Padang, a cricket field since the 1830s and now flanked by grand
buildings such as City Hall, with its 18 Corinthian columns. In Singapore's circa-1820 Chinatown
stands the red-and-gold Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, said to house one of Buddha's teeth.

ECONOMIC TYPE
Singapore is a unitary parliamentary republic with a Westminster system of unicameral
parliamentary government. According to the Democracy Index in 2018, the country is described
as a "flawed democracy". As one of the five founding members of ASEAN, Singapore is the host
of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Secretariat and Pacific Economic Cooperation
Council (PECC) Secretariat, as well as many international conferences and events. Singapore is
also a member of the United Nations, World Trade Organization, East Asia Summit, Non-Aligned
Movement and the Commonwealth of Nations.

CULTURE
Each Singaporean's behaviors and attitudes are influenced by, among other things, his
or her home language and his religion. Singaporeans who speak English as their native language
tend to lean toward Western culture, while those who speak Chinese as their native language
tend to lean toward Chinese culture and Confucianism. Malay-speaking Singaporeans tend to
lean toward Malay culture, which itself is closely linked to Islamic culture. Singapore has a
reputation as a nanny state. The government also places heavy emphasis on meritocracy,
where one is judged based on one's ability.

HISTORIES
Singapore was not greatly affected by the First World War (1914–18), as the conflict did
not spread to Southeast Asia. The only significant event during the war was the 1915 Singapore
Mutiny by Muslim sepoys from British India, who were garrisoned in Singapore. After hearing
rumors that they were to be sent to fight the Ottoman Empire, a Muslim state, the soldiers
rebelled, killing their officers and several British civilians before the mutiny was suppressed by
non-Muslim troops arriving from Johore and Burma.
After the First World War, the British built the large Singapore Naval Base as part of the
defensive Singapore strategy. Originally announced in 1921, the construction of the base was
gradual until the Japanese invasion of Manchuria in 1931.

LANGUAGES
  Malay
 English
 Mandarin

EDUCATION SYSTEM
Education for primary, secondary, and tertiary levels is mostly supported by the
state. All institutions, private and public, must be registered with the Ministry of Education.
English is the language of instruction in all public schools, and all subjects are taught and
examined in English except for the "mother tongue" language paper. While the term "mother
tongue" in general refers to the first language internationally, in Singapore's education system,
it is used to refer to the second language, as English is the first language. Students who have
been abroad for a while, or who struggle with their "Mother Tongue" language, are allowed to
take a simpler syllabus or drop the subject. Education takes place in three stages: primary,
secondary, and pre-university education.

TYPE OF MONEY

 Singapore Dollar

FLAGSHIP PRODUCT

 Assorted Biscuits
 Crocodile Meat
 Sauces

TOURIST
SPOT

Gardens by
the Bay
 China
Town

THAILAND

Thailand is a
Southeast Asian
country. It's
known for
tropical beaches,
opulent royal
palaces, ancient
ruins and ornate
temples displaying figures of Buddha. In Bangkok, the capital, an ultramodern cityscape rises
next to quiet canalside communities and the iconic temples of Wat Arun, Wat Pho and the
Emerald Buddha Temple (Wat Phra Kaew). Nearby beach resorts include bustling Pattaya and
fashionable Hua Hin.

ECONOMIC TYPE
The system of government was a network of tributaries ruled by local lords.
Modern absolute monarchy and statehood was established by Chulalongkorn when he
transformed the decentralized protectorate system into a unitary state. On 24 June 1932,
Khana Ratsadon (People's Party) carried out a bloodless revolution which marked the beginning
of constitutional monarchy.

CULTURE
Thai culture has been shaped by many influences, including Indian, Lao, Burmese,
Cambodian, and Chinese.
Its traditions incorporate a great deal of influence from India, China, Cambodia, and the rest of
Southeast Asia. Thailand's national religion, Theravada Buddhism, is central to modern Thai
identity. Thai Buddhism has evolved over time to include many regional beliefs originating from
Hinduism, animism, as well as ancestor worship. The official calendar in Thailand is based on
the Eastern version of the Buddhist Era (BE), which is 543 years ahead of the Gregorian
(Western) calendar. Thus the year 2015 is 2558 BE in Thailand.

HISTORIES
Through the 18th and 19th centuries, Siam faced pressure from France and the
United Kingdom, including forced concessions of territory; nevertheless, it remained the only
Southeast Asian country to avoid direct Western rule. Following a bloodless revolution in 1932,
Siam became a constitutional monarchy and changed its official name to "Thailand". While it
joined the Allies in World War I, Thailand was an Axis satellite in World War II. In the late 1950s,
a military coup under Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat revived the monarchy's historically
influential role in politics. Thailand became a major ally of the United States, and played a key
anti-communist role in the region as a member of the Southeast Asia Treaty Organization
(SEATO). Apart from a brief period of parliamentary democracy in the mid-1970s, Thailand has
periodically alternated between democracy and military rule. In 2013, Thailand endured a
political crisis that culminated in two coups and the establishment of its current and 20th
constitution by a military junta.

LANGUAGES

 Thailand

EDUCATION SYSTEM
 Education is provided by a well-organized school system of kindergartens, primary,
lower secondary and upper secondary schools, numerous vocational colleges, and universities.
The private sector of education is well developed and significantly contributes to the overall
provision of education which the government would not be able to meet with public
establishments. Education is compulsory up to and including age 14, with the government
providing free education through to age 17. The establishment of reliable and coherent
curricula for its primary and secondary schools is subject to such rapid changes that schools and
their teachers are not always sure what they are supposed to be teaching, and authors.

TYPE OF MONEY

 Bhat (THB)

FLAGSHIP PRODUCT

 Computer Parts
 Garments
 Rubber products
TOURIST SPOT

Koh Phi
Phi
Floating Markets

VIETNAM

Vietnam is a
Southeast Asian country
on the South China Sea
known for its beaches,
rivers, Buddhist pagodas
and bustling cities.
Hanoi, the capital, pays
homage to the nation’s
iconic Communist-era
leader, Ho Chi Minh, via a huge marble mausoleum. Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) has
French colonial landmarks, plus Vietnamese War history museums and the Củ Chi tunnels, used
by Viet Cong soldiers.

ECONOMIC TYPE
Vietnam works under a socialist-oriented market economy, which means that the
government is directly involved in economic development and decision-making. Currently, it is
a mix between this state-planned economy and a market economy, which is controlled by
supply and demand. The eventual goal of the government is to achieve socialism. During the
1980’s, the Communist Party established this unique economic framework in an attempt to
move away from the Soviet-type economic planning that was then in place.

CULTURE
Vietnam's culture has developed over the centuries from indigenous ancient Đông
Sơn culture with wet rice cultivation as its economic base. Some elements of the nation's
culture have Chinese origins, drawing on elements of Confucianism, Mahāyāna Buddhism and
Taoism in its traditional political system and philosophy. Vietnamese society is structured
around làng (ancestral villages); all Vietnamese mark a common ancestral anniversary on the
tenth day of the third lunar month. The influence of Chinese culture such as the Cantonese,
Hakka, Hokkien and Hainanese cultures is more evident in the north where Buddhism is
strongly entwined with popular culture.
HISTORIES
Archaeological excavations indicate that Vietnam was inhabited as early as the
Paleolithic age. The ancient Vietnamese nation was annexed by China in the 2nd century BC,
which subsequently made Vietnam a division of China for over a millennium. The first
independent monarchy emerged in the 10th century AD. This paved the way for successive
imperial dynasties as the nation expanded geographically southward until the Indochinese
Peninsula saw French colonisation in the mid-19th century. Modern Vietnam was born upon
the Proclamation of Independence from France in 1945. Following Vietnamese victory against
the French in the First Indochina War, which ended in 1954, the nation was divided into two
rival states: communist North and anti-communist South. Conflicts intensified in the Vietnam
War, which saw extensive US intervention in support of South Vietnam and ended with North
Vietnamese victory in 1975.

LANGUAGES

 Vietnamese

EDUCATION SYSTEM
Education in Vietnam is a state-run system of public and private education run by the
Ministry of Education and Training. It is divided into five levels: preschool, primary school,
secondary school, high school, and higher education. Formal education consists of twelve years
of basic education. Basic education consists of five years of primary education, four years of
intermediate education, and three years of secondary education. The majority of basic
education students are enrolled on a half-day basis. The main education goal in Vietnam is
"improving people's general knowledge, training quality human resources, and nurturing and
fostering talent."

TYPE OF MONEY

 Đông (VND)

FLAGSHIP PRODUCT

 Silk
  Hand embroidery
 Pearl jewelry
TOURIST SPOT

My Son
Dalat