Ninety-nine entries came in, 10 reached the final round, and only one earned a unanimous vote from 13 judges in Bangkok on November 20, 2008.
That song was The ASEAN Way, now the official anthem of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Unlike national anthems, which represent individual countries, The ASEAN Way was created to express a shared regional identity. Its lyrics focus on unity, peace, cooperation, and prosperity, reflecting the principles ASEAN seeks to promote among its members.
Why ASEAN Needed Its Own Anthem
ASEAN’s anthem has a legal footing. Article 40 of the ASEAN Charter states that ASEAN shall have an anthem. The Charter was signed in Singapore on November 20, 2007, and entered into force on December 15, 2008.
The anthem joined the flag and emblem as one of the official symbols through which the organisation presents itself as a regional body.
According to the ASEAN Secretariat, the anthem is intended to express regional unity and strengthen a sense of ASEAN identity and belonging among the peoples of the region.
How ASEAN Chose Its Anthem
ASEAN chose its official anthem through an open competition held in 2008, with participants invited from the organisation’s 10 member states at the time. According to Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 99 musical entries were submitted.
A panel of 13 judges assessed the entries. It included representatives from the 10 member states and three independent experts from China, Japan, and Australia. A shortlist of 10 finalists went forward to the final round.
On November 20, 2008, in Bangkok, Thailand, the judges unanimously selected “The ASEAN Way” as the winning composition.
Three Thai contributors created the song. Kittikhun Sodprasert composed and arranged the music, Sampao Triudom also contributed to the composition, and Payom Valaipatchra wrote the lyrics.
The result meant ASEAN’s official anthem came from Thailand, which has been a member since the organisation’s founding in 1967.
A Song With No Country Names
The lyrics of “The ASEAN Way” open with the raising of the ASEAN flag and an embrace of regional pride. They then describe the member states as bonded together and move to the goals of peace and lasting prosperity.
A line about daring to dream and caring to share recurs in the song and carries its theme of common aspirations and cooperation. The lyrics do not name any individual country or refer to national histories. They address ASEAN as a collective.
The anthem’s message also shares its wording with ASEAN’s official motto, “One Vision, One Identity, One Community”, which is set out in Article 36 of the ASEAN Charter.
Rules for Playing The ASEAN Way
The ASEAN Way was introduced to the public at a launch concert in Bangkok on November 28, 2008. Its first use at an official ASEAN function came on December 15, 2008, at a ceremony marking the entry into force of the ASEAN Charter.
The anthem was first used at an ASEAN Summit on February 28, 2009, at the opening of the 14th ASEAN Summit in Cha-am, Thailand.
On April 8, 2010, the ASEAN Coordinating Council adopted guidelines on the anthem’s use in Hanoi. The guidelines state that audiences should stand when it is played and that it must be used in a proper and dignified manner.
The guidelines encourage its use at official ASEAN meetings, ceremonies, and related activities. They also encourage member states to translate the anthem into local languages to promote awareness of ASEAN among their populations.
The anthem is protected by ASEAN copyright. Its use in whole or in part is prohibited for commercial purposes and political propaganda. The anthem was selected in 2008, when ASEAN had 10 member states. On October 26, 2025, Timor-Leste officially joined the organisation as its 11th member.
