Southeast Asia | 15 Facts (Groups)

Group Representation Constituencies/ GRCs

The ___ is a type of electoral group in Singapore composed of different ethnicities and races.

Speakers’ Corner

In Singapore, the ___ was set up in 2000 as a space where citizens can deliver public speeches without needing a Public Entertainment Licence.

Hyde Park

Singapore's Speakers' Corner was inspired by London's famous ___.

$1,000 note

The entire lyrics of Majulah Singapura can be found on the back of the ___ in micropoint, according to the Monetary Authority of Singapore.

Majulah Singapura

___ is Singapore's national anthem

Great Singapore Duck Race

The ___ set a new world record in 2002 with over 123,000 toy ducks racing in Singapore River at Clarke Quay.

Food

Eating and discussing ___ is considered a national pastime in Singapore.

North East Line

The ___ is the world’s first fully-automated MRT line, operational since 2003.

Raffles Hotel

Despite Singapore’s strict littering laws, it is acceptable to drop peanut shells on the floor in certain places, like ___.

Chope

The unique Singaporean term ___ that refers to reserving a seat using items like tissue packets.

Night Safari Singapore

Singapore's ___ is the world’s first night zoo, home to over 900 nocturnal animals.

World Toilet Organization (WTO)

Singapore founded the ___ to improve global sanitation and raise awareness about the sanitation crisis.

MediSave

___ is a national medical savings scheme to help Singaporeans pay for healthcare expenses.

Most Competitive Economy

In 2024, Singapore ranked as the ___ in the world due to its stable institutions and strong trade access.

64 islands

Singapore is composed of ___, including its main diamond-shaped island and about 60 small islets.

Freshwater

Singapore has no natural ___ lakes and relies heavily on imports from Malaysia.

Malaysia

On 9 August 1965, Singapore became an independent and sovereign state after separating from ___.

Hungry Season

The ___ in Timor-Leste occurs from November to March when food stocks deplete and families face intense food scarcity.

Indonesia

___ invaded Timor-Leste in 1975, leading to mass atrocities that killed 1 in 6 Timorese by 1979.

Genocide

Due to Western involvement, atrocities committed by Indonesia to Timor-Leste were never officially labeled as ___.

red field, yellow triangle, black triangle, white star

National Flag

Retail Vote-Buying

Despite having corruption and inequality, ___ remains largely absent in Timor-Leste due to its party-centered politics.

party

Timor-Leste's politics is highly ___-centered.

Observer Status

In 2022, Timor-Leste was granted an ___ at the ASEAN Summit, marking a step toward full membership.

Cristo Rei

The ___ statue in Dili was built in 1996 as a gift from Indonesia to commemorate the invasion’s 20th anniversary. [Timor-Leste]

Timorese Resistance Archive and Museum

The ___ in Dili commemorates the nation’s struggle against Indonesian occupation. [Timor-Leste]

Nino Konis Santana National Park

The ___ is Timor-Leste’s only national park, named after a Falantil commander.

Jaco Island

___ is a sacred and uninhabited island where the Banda Sea and Timor Sea meet.

Laili Cave

___ in Timor-Leste contains archaeological findings dating back 44,000 years, the oldest human occupation in the region.

Tara Bandu

___ is an ancient law that protects marine biodiversity and was revived after independence in 2002.

Uma Lulik

The sacred house of the Fataluku people, ___ symbolizes unity between past and present, and the dead and living.

Funu and Terus

___ and ___ are concepts of struggle and suffering that unify East Timorese identity across history.

Crocodile, Grandfather Crocodile

The ___ is a sacred symbol in Timor-Leste, believed to have transformed into the island itself; it is called ___.

Mechi Ceremony

The ___ is a traditional celebration where Fataluku people harvest palolo seaworms and perform rituals.

Kopi Luwak

___ is one of the world’s most expensive coffees, made from beans digested and excreted by civet cats. [Indonesia]

Indofood

In 2005, the Indonesia's company ___ created a massive instant noodle pack weighing over 664 kilograms.

Homo floresiensis

The remains of the tiny human species ___ were discovered on the island of Flores in 2003. [Indonesia]

Ampo

In parts of Indonesia, people eat ___, a baked clay snack believed to have detoxifying properties.

Palapa Satellite

In 1976, Indonesia launched the ___, becoming the first developing country with a domestic communication satellite.

Death Penalty

Indonesia still enforces the ___, especially for crimes like drug trafficking and terrorism.

Komodo Dragon

The ___ is the world’s largest lizard, found only on select Indonesian islands.

Flags

Indonesia and Monaco’s ___ are identical except for their size ratio.

FIFA World Cup

Indonesia was the first Asian country to qualify for the ___ in 1938 as the Dutch East Indies.

Palm Oil

Indonesia is the world’s largest producer of ___, contributing over half the global supply.

Nyepi

___ is a Balinese Hindu New Year festival marked by a day of complete silence and meditation. [Indonesia]

Rafflesia Arnoldii

___ is the world’s largest individual flower, known for its foul “corpse-like” smell. [Indonesia]

Sembako

In Indonesia, ___ refers to the nine essential ingredients that are crucial to daily living and national stability.

Nusantara

___ is the name of Indonesia’s planned new capital in East Kalimantan, set to replace Jakarta.

Bali Belly

___ is a common term for traveler’s diarrhea among tourists in Indonesia due to unfamiliar bacteria in food and water.

Nationwide Curfew

Laos enforces a ___ where most bars and nightclubs are expected to close by midnight.

French Protectorate

In 1893, Laos became a ___ under colonial rule.

France

Laos gained independence from ___ in 1954, soon after slipping into civil war.

Vientiane

The capital city ___ retains French-style architecture and a love for baguettes and coffee.

Laos Civil War

The ___ (1959–1975) was also known as the "Secret War" due to heavy US involvement.

Cluster Bombs

Over 270 million ___ were dropped on Laos during the Secret War.

Lao Kip/ Lak

The ___ is Laos’s official currency, symbolized by ₭, but is nearly worthless today due to inflation.

Coffee Producer

Laos is Southeast Asia's third-largest ___, supporting over 40,000 families.

white disc, red-blue-red stripes– The Laos flag features a ___ and ___ symbolizing independence and prosperity.

Lao Language

The ___ is one of the tonal language of Southeast Asia, using pitch to distinguish meanings; regional accents consist of northern, central, and southern. [Laos]

Lao Alphabet

In the ___, there are no spaces between words, only between clauses or sentences. [Laos]

Sinh

The traditional tube dress worn by Laotian women is called ___ and is made of silk with intricate patterns; three main parts are Hua ___, Phuen ___, and Tin ___.

Salong

The traditional men’s costume in Laos is the ___, a large wrap-around pant often paired with a shawl.

Touching, Head

___ of the ___ is considered disrespectful in Laos it is viewed as sacred.

Boun Suang Heua

___ is a boat racing festival in Laos celebrated every August and October.

Land of a Million Caves

Laos is nicknamed the ___, a twist on its former title "Land of a Million Elephants."

Kong Lor Cave

One of the most famous caves in Laos is ___, known for its beauty and ancient fossil finds.

Oldest Human Fossil

The ___ was found in a cave in northern Laos and is believed to be 46,000 years old.

Irrawaddy Dolphins

The final ___ in Laos died in 2022, marking the species’ extinction in the country; widely found in the Mekong River in Laos.

Sticky Rice, khao niaow

In Laos, ___ or ___ is a gluten-free staple food tied to religious practices.

Buffalos

Unlike cows, ___ are used across Laos to plow rice fields and support village life.

Hội An Lantern Festival

The ___ is celebrated on the 14th day of the lunar month with glowing lanterns symbolizing prayers and wishes. [Vietnam]

Crossing, Streets

___ the ___ in Vietnam involves stepping into traffic and relying on motorbike drivers’ awareness to navigate around pedestrians.

Non La

The ___ is a traditional conical hat in Vietnam, inspired by a goddess who ended a storm with her giant leaf hat.

Pho

___ is Vietnam’s national dish that blends French and Chinese culinary influences into a rich, aromatic noodle soup.

Bánh Mì

___ is a Vietnamese sandwich born from colonial-era baguettes and filled with native meats, herbs, and pickled vegetables.

Egg Coffee

___ is made by whipping egg yolks, sugar, and condensed milk into strong robusta coffee.

Bia Hơi

___ is an unpasteurized beer brewed daily in Vietnam and best consumed within 36 hours for peak flavor.

Tea Culture

Vietnamese ___ favors fresh leaves and a bitter-to-sweet taste, symbolizing patience and depth.

Robusta Coffee

___ has made Vietnam the world’s second-largest coffee exporter since reforms in the 1980s.

Music

Vietnamese ___ reflects the fusion of traditional genres and modern styles like folk, hip hop, and rock.

Sao Trúc

The ___ is a traditional bamboo flute used in Vietnamese folk music for its smooth, melodious tones.

Đàn Bầu

The ___ is a one-string zither that uses harmonic touch and pitch control to produce soft, ethereal sounds. [Vietnam]

Garment and Textile Industry

___ is a leading export sector for Vietnam, boosted by low labor costs and trade agreements.

Van Phúc Silk Village

___ near Hanoi is known for producing royal-quality silk since the 11th century. [Vietnam]

Cashew

___ Industry is globally known for its buttery nuts and plays a key role in Vietnam’s agricultural exports.

Patriarchy

___ in Cambodia often places men in dominant roles while women are viewed as timid and unsuited for politics.

Wat Phnom

___ is Phnom Penh’s tallest and most significant temple, built in 1373 atop an 88-foot hill. [Cambodia]

Khmer Rouge Genocide

Cambodia endured the ___ ___ from 1975 to 1979, resulting in over 1.5 million deaths.

Stoic Philosophy

___ in Cambodia encourages calm, respectful behavior and discourages emotional outbursts.

Voice Memos

___ are widely used in Cambodia, partly due to the difficulty of typing Khmer script.

Komlang

In Khmer, ___ means power and includes both coercive force and qualities like intelligence or virtue.

Neak Thom

___ is a common Southeast Asian term referring to powerful people; literally means "big person"

Sangkum Reastr Niyum

___ was a political movement founded by Prince Sihanouk in 1955, promoting nationalism and monarchy. [Cambodia]

Amok

___ is Cambodia’s national dish, a steamed fish curry in banana leaves with a mousse-like texture.

Chaktomuk

___ was the name for Phnom Penh from 1432 to 1505, referring to its location at a four-river junction.

Motodup

___ are Cambodia’s common motorbike taxis, known for their affordability and door-to-door convenience.

Ox Cart Racing

___ is a traditional Cambodian sport, especially popular during Khmer New Year.

Bamboo Train/ Norry

The ___ is a post-Khmer Rouge transport using bamboo platforms and old war scrap. [Cambodia]

Banteay Chhmar Temple

___ was built during Jayavarman VII’s reign and honors his son and his protectors. [Cambodia]

Tonlé Sap Lake

___ is Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 1997. [Cambodia]