Southeast Asia

Southeast Asia, region of Asia south of the southernmost boundaries of China and India, including Brunei, Burma, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The area covers about 1,740,000 sq mi (4,506,600 sq km) and is comprised mostly of areas of rich agricultural lands that produce rubber, rice, tea, coffee, tobacco, pepper, and coconut oil. There are also abundant teak forests, petroleum deposits, tin and gem mines, and fish. Southeast Asia is a land of diverse cultural backgrounds influenced in part by Europeans, who as early as the 16th century were drawn by the area's resources. Cities include Bangkok, Thailand; Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Jakarta, Indonesia; Manila, the Philippines; and Singapore.

See also: Asia.