French Exploration of the Mekong River: The de Lagree and Garnier Expedition 1866-1868
The Mekong River cuts a mighty swathe through Cambodia and Vietnam. Yet its impressive width and fertile banks both impress and mislead. The river...
King Sejong and the Invention of Hangul
King Sejong was the fourth king of the Yi dynasty of Korea, which was the dynasty that ruled the country from 1392-1910. He...
Ramkhamhaeng the Great
Ramkhamhaeng is considered to be one of the greatest of all Kings of Thai history. He created the city state of Sukothai which achieved...
The Trung Sisters and Vietnam’s First Resistance
Attempts by the Han Chinese to control or at least dominate Vietnam have been taking place for some 2,000 years. Vietnam offers a gateway...
The Achievement of Communism in East Asia
In recent years, it has become common to dismiss the values and achievements of communist states, even as the economic disasters that have occurred...
Vietnam’s Path to Independence: Another Southeast Asian Nation Sheds Colonial Rule
Despite Vietnam's declaration of independence after World War II, it was thirty years later before it was finally free of foreign influence upon reunification...
Lady on the River: A Brief History of Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai has been around for seven hundred years, serving as a hub for trade, politics, and the rich culture of northern Thailand. Here's...
Imelda Marcos’s Obsessions: Marcos’s Desires for Beauty and Power
Imelda Marcos's obsession with beauty and fashion has dominated her whole life. The former First Lady was called the Marie-Antoinette of the twentieth century.
She...
The U.S. Was Involved in Vietnam Before There Was a Vietnam
The area known later as Vietnam was called Indochina before the formation of Vietnam in 1954. It was a French colony before and after...
Jose Rizal: National Hero of the Philippines: The Life of a Filipino Writer and...
Dr. José Protasio Rizal Mercado y Alonso Realonda (June 19, 1861 – December 30, 1896) was a Filipino novelist, poet and medical doctor. His...