Indochina refers to a peninsula situated between India and China, forming the continental part of Southeast Asia, often termed Mainland Southeast Asia. This region includes Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, Viet Nam, and the Malay Peninsula.
Geographically, Indochina is bounded by the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea to the west, the Strait of Malacca to the south, the South China Sea to the east, and the deltas of the Ganges-Brahmaputra and Red Rivers to the north. Its continental nature contrasts sharply with the archipelagic nations of Indonesia and the Philippines, earning it the name "Mainland Southeast Asia."
As a cultural and historical bridge between India and China, Indochina boasts diverse landscapes and a heritage shaped by cross-civilizational interactions. Historically, it has been a contested arena for political, religious, and cultural influences—a dynamic that persists today.
Origins of the Term Indochina
According to Architecturalized Asia: Mapping a Continent Through History, the term Indo-China first emerged in the early 19th century, coined by Danish-French geographer Conrad Malte-Brun in 1804. In his book Précis de la Géographie Universelle, he used Indo-chinois to describe areas influenced by Indian and Chinese civilizations.
Shortly after, Scottish linguist John Leyden introduced "Indo-China" in 1808, emphasizing ethnic and linguistic connections. Both scholars laid the groundwork for understanding this region as a confluence of two Asian cultural powerhouses.
The term gained political traction during French colonial rule. France began colonizing southern Viet Nam (Cochinchina) in 1859, later establishing protectorates over Cambodia, Annam (central Viet Nam), and Tonkin (northern Viet Nam).
In 1887, the Union Indochinoise (French Indochina) unified Viet Nam, Cambodia, and Laos under one colonial administration. Meanwhile, Myanmar fell under British control in 1885, while Thailand skillfully retained independence through diplomacy. Today, the region is interchangeably called the Indochinese Peninsula or Mainland Southeast Asia.
People and Culture of Indochina
Mainland Southeast Asia contrasts with Maritime Southeast Asia, mainly due to the division between a predominantly land-based lifestyle in Indochina and a primarily sea-based lifestyle in the Indonesian and Philippine archipelago. Mainland Southeast Asia is home to diverse ethnic groups reflecting its complex history. The World Atlas notes a combined population exceeding 257 million across Indochina.
Dominant ethnicities include the Vietnamese, Khmer, Lao, and Burmese, alongside minority communities like Viet Nam’s Montagnard or Laos’ highland tribes. Theravada Buddhism prevails, except in Viet Nam, where Mahayana Buddhism and Confucianism dominate due to Chinese influence.
Languages and traditions here blend Indian and Chinese elements. Sino-Tibetan languages (Viet Namese, Burmese) and Austroasiatic (Khmer) are prominent, enriched by Sanskrit and Pali loanwords from India.
India’s legacy is evident in Cambodia’s Angkor Wat, inspired by Hindu mythology. Viet Nam, meanwhile, once used Chinese Han script before adopting the Latin alphabet in the 17th century. Chopstick dining and Lunar New Year celebrations further highlight enduring Chinese cultural imprints.
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Indochina is more than a geographic label—it embodies historical and cultural dynamics forged through centuries of Indian, Chinese, and European colonial interplay. Despite political upheavals, the region retains a unique identity, proving that cultural diversity weaves, rather than divides, the rich tapestry of Southeast Asian heritage.
