Lesson 1/44 min
The 11 countries at a glance
South-East Asia has 11 countries. Since Timor-Leste became the 11th member of ASEAN in 2025, all 11 belong to ASEAN.
Capital, currency, coloniser and independence (as in the books)
| Country | Capital | Currency | Ruled by | Independence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malaysia | Kuala Lumpur | Ringgit | Britain | 1957 |
| Thailand | Bangkok | Baht | Never colonised | — |
| Vietnam | Hanoi | Dong | France | 1945 |
| Philippines | Manila | Peso | United States | 1946 |
| Indonesia | Jakarta | Rupiah | Netherlands | 1945 |
| Laos | Vientiane | Kip | France | 1949 |
| Timor-Leste (East Timor) | Dili | US dollar | Portugal, later Indonesia | 20 May 2002 |
| Brunei | Bandar Seri Begawan | Brunei dollar | Britain | 1984 |
| Cambodia | Phnom Penh | Riel | France | 1953 |
| Singapore | Singapore (city-state) | Singapore dollar | Britain | 1965 |
| Myanmar | Naypyidaw | Kyat | Britain | 1948 |
Watch out: In Khandokar's table Indonesia's capital is “Nusantara”, and Singapore's coloniser is “Malaysia”, 1963. In fact Indonesia's capital is still Jakarta (Nusantara is the planned new capital), and Singapore was a British colony: it joined Malaysia on 16 September 1963 and left on 9 August 1965 to become a separate republic.
Watch out: Laos's “1949” is partial independence inside the French Union; full independence came on 22 October 1953. Indonesia proclaimed independence on 17 August 1945, Vietnam on 2 September 1945; Cambodia became independent on 9 November 1953.
Indochina and ASEAN
- Indochina has 3 countries: Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam (memory trick: “LaKVi”). All three were French colonies.
- The region is called Indochina because Indian and Chinese civilisations both shaped it; rich in rice, it was also known as “Suvarnabhumi”, the land of gold.
- Timor-Leste became ASEAN's 11th member on 26 October 2025, at the 47th summit in Kuala Lumpur.
- The previous newest member was Cambodia (1999).
Who leads now (November 2026, per news reports)
| Country | Leadership |
|---|---|
| Myanmar | President Min Aung Hlaing (elected by parliament 3 April, sworn in 10 April 2026) |
| Thailand | Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul (re-elected 19 March 2026); King Maha Vajiralongkorn |
| Vietnam | To Lam: Party General Secretary and State President (7 April 2026); Prime Minister Le Minh Hung |
| Laos | President Thongloun Sisoulith (re-elected 23 March 2026) |
| Indonesia | President Prabowo Subianto (since October 2024) |
| Philippines | President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. (since 2022) |
| Malaysia | Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim; King Sultan Ibrahim |
| Singapore | Prime Minister Lawrence Wong; President Tharman Shanmugaratnam |
| Cambodia | Prime Minister Hun Manet |
| Timor-Leste | President José Ramos-Horta; Prime Minister Xanana Gusmão |
| Brunei | Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah (head of state and government) |
Watch out: Leaders change. The leader details in the books are out of date; check recent news before your exam.
Check yourself
Which three countries make up Indochina?
At a glance
- 1
South-East Asia has 11 countries; Timor-Leste became the 11th ASEAN member on 26 October 2025.
- 2
Currencies: Malaysia ringgit, Thailand baht, Vietnam dong, Indonesia rupiah, Cambodia riel, Myanmar kyat, Laos kip.
- 3
Thailand is the only country in the region that was never a European colony.
- 4
The three Indochina countries, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam (“LaKVi”), were French colonies.
- 5
Independence: Myanmar 1948, Malaysia 1957, Philippines 1946, Brunei 1984, Timor-Leste 2002.