Many people think all Asian countries are the same and can’t tell the differences between them. Well, it’s true that understanding each country takes time because there’s always so much to learn. Let’s take it easy and start by looking at the differences between East Asia and Southeast Asia. You might be surprised to see how distinct they actually are.
First of all, let’s take a quick look at the profiles of East Asia and Southeast Asia.
1. Profile of East Asia and Southeast Asia
1-1. East Asia
Members: China, Japan, South Korea, North Korea, Mongolia
Population: 1.6 billion
Area: 11,840,000 km²
GDP per capita: USD 15,820
Major cities: Beijing, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Seoul, Shanghai, Taipei, Ulaanbaatar
1-2. Southeast Asia
Members: Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Brunei, East Timor, Myanmar
Population: 0.676 billion
Area: about 4,545,792 km²
GDP per capita: USD 5,950
Major cities: Singapore, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Manila, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh, Phnom Penh, Yangon, Dili
2. Cultural difference
2-1. East Asia
In East Asia, China exerts a significant cultural influence on its neighbors, making Chinese culture the core of East Asian culture. Mongolia stands out as the most unique nation in the region, having been the least influenced by China. The East Asian cultural sphere is often referred to as the Sinosphere. Interestingly, the Southeast Asian country of Vietnam is also considered a member of the Sinosphere due to its strong cultural ties to China.
Historically, China introduced literacy to Japan, Korea, and Vietnam, significantly influencing their development. As a result, Chinese characters were used in Korea and Vietnam and continue to play an important role in Japan’s writing system. After adopting Chinese characters, these countries developed their own alphabetical systems to better record their languages. For Japan, these systems are Hiragana and Katakana; for Korea, it is Hangul; and for Vietnam, it is Chữ Nôm.
With the influence of China, Confucianism and Taoism, which originated in China, have become the most important philosophical theories in East Asia. They have shaped these countries in many ways, including social values, religions, political systems, and more.
As mentioned above, Mongolia is quite different from the Sinosphere. Three main features make Mongolia unique. First, its nomadic tradition is deeply rooted in Mongolian culture, while China, Japan, and Korea have predominantly sedentary traditions. Second, the Mongolian writing system has not been influenced by China at all. Third, located at the crossroads of East Asia and the Middle East, Mongolia receives cultural influences from various Middle Eastern cultures, including Turkish.
In addition, there are many minority cultures in East Asia, such as the Tibetan and Uyghur cultures in China, and the Ryūkyū culture in Japan. However, their influence is considered quite limited compared to their majority. To keep this article concise, it would be better to concentrate on a country-based perspective rather than an ethnicity-based one.
2-2. Southeast Asia
Southeast Asian culture can be quite different from that of East Asia and is notably more diverse. It can generally be divided into six parts: (1) indigenous culture, (2) Islamic culture, (3) Indian culture, (4) Austronesian culture, (5) Chinese culture, and (6) Western culture. Due to its geographical location, Southeast Asia serves as a melting pot for various cultures, which inherently makes it special.
In mainland Southeast Asia, also known as Indochina, indigenous culture is more prominent. This can be further divided into various cultural groups, including Burmese, Thai, Vietnamese, Cambodian, and others.
For (2) Islamic culture, Indonesia is the most populous Islamic country in the world, with 87.2% of its population identifying as Muslim. In Malaysia (61.3%) and Brunei (79%), Islam is legally recognized as the national religion. Both countries have integrated Islamic law (Sharia) into their legal systems.
(3) Indian culture is generally considered to have an influence in every Southeast Asian country, but it does not hold a dominant status. In contrast, (4) Austronesian culture is deeply rooted in many Southeast Asian countries, such as Indonesia and the Philippines.
Similar to (3) Indian culture, (5) Chinese culture also influences nearly all Southeast Asian countries, but its impact is relatively limited. However, as mentioned in section 2-1, it has a particularly strong influence on Vietnam. In addition, Singapore is also considered a Sinosphere country, with 75.9% of its population being Chinese.
As for (6) Western culture, during the pre-modern era, nearly all Southeast Asian countries were colonized by Western powers, with the exception of Thailand. Therefore, we can say that Western culture influences every Southeast Asian country. However, it is particularly dominant in the Philippines, which has the largest Roman Catholic population in Asia.
3. Economic gap
There is a significant economic gap between East Asian and Southeast Asian countries. Today, East Asia is the most prosperous region in the world, while many Southeast Asian countries are considered less developed.
The most straightforward data point is that the GDP per capita in East Asia is $15,820 in 2024, which is higher than the world average of $13,840. In comparison, Southeast Asia has a GDP per capita of $5,950.
However, this is just a general overview. Within both regions, there are shocking gaps too. Let’s explore them further!
3-1. East Asia
China is the second-largest economy in the world and is regarded as a country possessing full industrial chain capabilities. With a GDP per capita of $13,136 in 2023, it is only $900 short of reaching the World Bank’s threshold for classification as a high-income country.
Japan has been a developed country since the 1970s, while South Korea joined the ranks of wealthy nations by becoming an OECD member in 1996. Although Mongolia and North Korea have lagged behind economically, their populations combined account for only about 1.82% of East Asia’s total population, making their economic significance very limited.
East Asia is home to many world-class cities. Tokyo consistently ranks fourth in global city rankings across various sources. Shanghai is one of the world’s leading business and trade hubs. Hong Kong serves as a major international financial center, while Seoul is recognized as a global leader in high-tech industries. Shenzhen stands out as a global leader in e-commerce.
3-2. Southeast Asia
While Singapore is one of the most developed countries in the world, other Southeast Asian nations are still in their developing stages. Brunei follows closely, also classified as a high-income country according to the latest World Bank statistics. Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia are categorized as upper-middle-income countries, while the remaining six nations fall into the lower-middle-income category.
When it comes to cities, Singapore is renowned for its dynamic economy. Bangkok is recognized as a world-class tourist destination and an important cultural hub in Asia. Kuala Lumpur holds significant commercial importance because of its strategic location near the Strait of Malacca. Prominently, Ho Chi Minh City and Jakarta have been attracting growing attention in recent years.
＊Due to the consistently rising sea level, Indonesia is set to change its capital city to Nusantara.
4. Climatic difference
Both East Asia and South Asia have complex climates. Since this article is not intended to be a geographical essay, let’s cover some basic information only.
4-1. East Asia
Due to its latitude, only a few regions in East Asia experience a tropical climate (as opposed to a subtropical climate). This is likely the most significant difference between the climates of East Asia and Southeast Asia.
China:
Northern Part: Temperate continental climate and temperate monsoon climate.
Southern Part: Subtropical monsoon climate.
Western Part: Plateau climate (Tibet and Qinghai), desert climate (Xinjiang), and mountain climate.
Japan:
Most Regions: Subtropical monsoon climate with oceanic characteristics.
Tohoku and Hokkaido: Temperate monsoon climate.
Korea Peninsula:
Northern part: temperature monsoon climate
Southern part: subtropical monsoon climate
Mongolia:
Most regions: continental climate
4-2 Southeast Asia
In the case of Southeast Asia, region-based introductions are more effective. The main reason for this is that Southeast Asian countries are generally smaller in size and geographically close to one another.
Southeast Asia can be divided into two major parts: the Indochina Peninsula and the Maritime region. The Indochina Peninsula includes Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and a part of Malaysia. The Maritime region encompasses the island countries of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and East Timor.
Indochina Peninsula:
Northern Part: Tropical monsoon climate and subtropical monsoon climate.
Middle and Southern Part: Tropical monsoon climate and tropical rainforest climate.
Western Part: Subtropical plateau climate.
The Maritime region:
In this area, tropical rainforest climate and tropical monsoon climate are dominant.
5. Culinary difference
You may have tried what’s often referred to as “Asian food” and might think that it’s quite similar across various Asian countries. However, there are actually huge differences. I would like to introduce the distinctions between East Asia and Southeast Asia in terms of taste, style, and customs.
5-1. East Asia
The main staples in East Asian cuisine are rice, wheat, and beans. For example, you’ll find noodles in China and sushi in Japan. Of course, meats such as pork, chicken, and beef are popular too, along with fish, seafood, and a variety of vegetables.
When it comes to taste, East Asian cuisine is generally characterized by relatively mild flavors, particularly in Japanese food. People in this region often prefer the natural taste of the ingredients rather than masking them with excessive spices. There are some exceptions, such as Korean food, where dishes like kimchi can be quite spicy. However, these spicier options are still less prevalent compared to the overall preference for subtler flavors.
Condiments like soy sauce, vinegar, miso, and doubanjiang often feature fermented flavors. For instance, Japan has miso soup, while Korea offers doenjang soup and kimchi. China is known for its soy sauce and dark soy sauce. All of these exemplify the unique taste profiles that fermented condiments bring to East Asian cuisines.
In East Asia, people generally do not use their hands to eat. Chopsticks are the primary utensils for this purpose. The only exception is Mongolia, where chopsticks are less common. Instead, spoons and forks are more widely used in Mongolian cuisine.
5-2. Southeast Asia
The food landscape in Southeast Asia is similar to that of East Asia, but the biggest difference lies in the abundance of fruits. The region’s favorable climate allows for a wide variety of tropical fruits to thrive. One of my personal favorites is Thai Pineapple Fried Rice, which perfectly combines the sweetness of pineapple with savory flavors.
In terms of taste, Southeast Asian cuisine utilizes far more spices than East Asian food. The flavors are often more pronounced, with a particular emphasis on sour and spicy notes. This can be attributed to Indian influence, as masala is commonly used in many Southeast Asian dishes. Plus, ingredients like cilantro, lemongrass, chili, and fish sauce are frequently added as well, enhancing the complexity and vibrancy of the flavors.
In contrast to East Asia, where dining typically takes place indoors at tables with various utensils, casual meals like street food are very popular in Southeast Asia. In many regions, it’s common to eat on the go, allowing people to enjoy delicious food while walking.
In Southeast Asia, although people do use utensils, it is also very common to eat with their hands, a practice that is rarely seen in East Asia.
6. Conclusion
Alright, that’s all for this article. I hope you found it helpful! As we can see, East Asia and Southeast Asia differ in many aspects, but they also share numerous similarities.
Nowadays, international communication is becoming increasingly frequent, fostering greater diversity and inclusivity among people in both regions. If you’re intrigued, why not plan a trip to Asian countries like Japan, China, Korea, the Philippines, and more? Let’s go!
