Asian American Resources

• Martial arts, such as Muay Thai and Pencak Silat are popular in some of the countries in this region.

• Puppetry is a traditional art form in Southeast Asia, and countries like Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam each have distinctive puppetry traditions while waving is prominent in Laos. 

• Traditional dance forms, such as Khmer classical dance, Thai classical dance, Balinese dance and Filipino folk dances, are also widely performed and shared.

• Lunar New Year, Sinulog and Nyepi are just some of the major festivals celebrated in countries throughout Southeast Asia.

• The region is renowned worldwide for its culinary diversity and flavors. Thailand is famous for its spicy and aromatic dishes like tom yum soup and pad thai. Vietnamese cuisine offers fresh and flavorful dishes like pho and banh mi. Malaysian and Indonesian cuisine features a blend of Malay, Chinese and Indian influences.

• Respect for elders and hierarchical relationships are important values.

Official Title: Negara Brunei Darussalam (State of Brunei – Abode of Peace)

Official Language(s): Malay

Regional and Indigenous Languages:Belait, Bisaya, Dusun, Kedayan, Murut, Tutong 

Foreign Languages Spoken: Arabic, Chinese (Hokkien, Hakka, Mandarin and Cantonese), English, American Sign Language

Religions and Belief Systems: Buddhism, Christianity, Islam

Official Title: The Kingdon of Cambodia

Official Language(s): Khmer

Regional and Indigenous Languages: Cham, Chong, Jarai, Kuy, Tumpoon

Foreign Languages Spoken: Chinese (Hokkien, Hakka, Mandarin, and Cantonese), English, French, Lao, Thai

Religions and Belief Systems: Animism, Atheism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam

Official Title: The Republic of Indonesia

Official Language(s): Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian)

Regional and Indigenous Languages: More than 300 languages are spoken in the country, including Acehnese, Balinese, Banjarese, Betawi, Buginese, Javanese, Madurese, Minangkabau, Palembang, Sasak and Sundanese

Regional and Indigenous Languages: Arabic, English, Chinese (Hokkien, Hakka, Mandarin and Cantonese), Dutch, Deutsch (German), Hindi, Portuguese, Tamil

Religions and Belief Systems: Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism

Official Title: Lao People’s Democratic Republic

Official Language(s): Loa (also known as Isan in Thailand)

Regional and Indigenous Languages: Khmu, Hmong, Kniang dialect, Puoc dialect, O’du dialect 

Foreign Languages Spoken:  Chinese (Cantonese, Khmer, Mandarin), Teochew, English, French, Thai, Vietnamese

Religions and Belief Systems: Christianity, Hinduism, Theravada Buddhism, Tai folk religion

Official Title: Malaysia (previously known as “The Federation of Malaya” from 1957 – 1963)

Official Language(s): Malay (Bahasa Malaysia)

Regional and Indigenous Languages: More than122 languages are spoken in Malaysia including Chinese (Hokkien, Hakka, Mandarin, and Cantonese), Arabic, Bengali, Gujarati, Iban, Isan, Karen, Kurdish, Kazadandusuns, Malayalam, Persian, Punjabi, Telugu, Thai, Tamil and Malaysian Sign Language

Foreign Languages Spoken:  English (popular second language), Filipino, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese

Religions and Belief Systems: Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Secular, Sikhism

Official Title: The Republic of the Union of Myanmar (since 1989, formerly known as Burma)

Official Language(s): Burmese

Regional and Indigenous Languages: Arakanese, Bengali, Chin, Jingpho, Karen, Karenni, Kokang, Mon, Nepali, Rakhine, Shan, Burmese Sign Language

Foreign Languages Spoken:  Chinese (Mandarin), English

Religions and Belief Systems:  Buddhism, Burmese Folk Religion, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam

Official Title: The Republic of the Philippines

Official Language(s): Filipino (Standardized Tagalog), English, Filipino Sign Language

Regional and Indigenous Languages: Approximately 195 languages are spoken in the Philippines, including Aklanon, Arabic, Central Bikol, Cebuano, Chavacano, Chinese (Hokkien), Hiligaynon, Ibanag, Ilocano, Ivatan, Kapampangan, Kinaray-a, Maguindanao, Malay, Maranao, Pangasinan, Sambal, Spanish, Surigaonon, Tagalog, Tausūg, Waray and Yakan

Foreign Languages Spoken:  Chinese (Cantonese, Mandarin), Japanese, Korean

Religions and Belief Systems:  Christianity, Islam

Official Title: The Republic of Singapore

Official Language(s): Singaporean Mandarin, English, Malay, Tamil

Regional and Indigenous Languages: Chinese (Hokkien, Hakka, Hainanese, Teochew, Cantonese), Indonesian and Javanese, Japanese, Korean, Malayalam, Portuguese, Punjabi, Telugu

Foreign Languages Spoken: Arabic, Armenian, Bengali, Dutch, Farsi, Filipino, German, Hebrew, Hindi, Spanish, Russian, Thai, Vietnamese, Yiddish

Religions and Belief Systems:  Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Taoism

Official Title: The Kingdom of Thailand (since 1939, formerly known as Siam)

Official Language(s): Central Thai (Siamese)

Regional and Indigenous Languages: Approximately 75 languages are spoken in Thailand, including Chinese (Hokkien, Hakka, Hainanese, Teochew), Isan, Karen, Khmer, Lanna dialect, Tai Dam dialect, Pak Thai dialect, Khamti dialect, Ahom dialect and Thai Sign Language

Foreign Languages Spoken:  Arabic, Burmese, Chinese (Mandarin), English, French, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Lao, Malay, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, Tamil, Vietnamese

Religions and Belief Systems:  Buddhism, Christianity, Hindi, Islam, Sikhism

Official Title:Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste

Official Language(s): Portuguese, Tetun

Regional and Indigenous Languages: Bekais, Bunak, Galoli, Habun, Idalaka, Kawaimina, Kemak, Lovaia, Makalero, Makasae, Malay, Mambai, Tokodede, Wetarese, Tetum Sign Language, Indonesian Sign Language

Foreign Languages Spoken:  English, Indonesian

Religions and Belief Systems: Christianity, Islam

Official Title: The Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Official Language(s): Vietnamese

Regional and Indigenous Languages: Cham, Chinese, Khmer, Hmong, Mường, Nùng

Written Language: Chữ Nôm

Foreign Languages Spoken:  Czech, English, French, German, Polish, Russian

Religions and Belief Systems:  Buddhism, Hoahaoism Buddhism, Christianity,  Cao Dai, folk religion, Taoism