Articles Category: Culture

Water festivals are important occasions in Southeast Asia and Northeast India. Despite geographical differences, the water festivals celebrated in the two regions are startlingly similar, underscoring Southeast Asia and Northeast India’s common cultura

ASEAN Volunteers, an ASEAN Cooperation Project, aims to foster a caring and sharing community among ASEAN youth through volunteering activities. It aspires to become an ASEAN-led integrated platform for such activities, to promote ASEAN awareness and t

First-time visitors to Southeast Asia often find themselves mystified by local names. They ask: Are one-word names considered given names or surnames? Which part denotes the surname in multi-word names (the current record is 12 words)? Why do spouses,

In May 2023, the Business Insider published an article titled “RIP Metaverse: An Obituary for the Latest Fad to Join the Tech Graveyard,” signalling the gloomy future of the industry. The metaverse was on everyone’s lips just two years before, bolstere

The ASEAN-Japan Fair 2023 took centre stage at the Main Atrium of Plaza Senayan in Jakarta from 29 September to 1 October 2023. Organised by the Mission of Japan to ASEAN and the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF) Management Team, this event marked fi

Good Design Exhibition 2023 Tokyo, Japan 25-29 October 2023

As the Lao PDR assumes the Chairpersonship of ASEAN and your Ministry leads the ASCC, could you share Lao PDR’s top priorities for the ASCC?

Dr. Kao Kim Hourn began his five year-term as Secretary-General of ASEAN on 1 January 2023. He served two terms as Secretary of State of Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (2003-2013) and two terms as Minister Delegate

Tourism has been one of the hardest- hit sectors by the prolonged COVID-19 pandemic. Secretary Romulo-Puyat talks to The ASEAN about the pandemic’s impact on the Philippines’ tourism industry, on jobs and businesses, and how the country is working towa

“The ASEAN S4DPL Project is very effective for the youth in the community and it made me become open-minded. I call this the most precious experience of my life,” says Wai Yan Thant Zin, Myanmar youth leader, reflecting on her experience being part of

Josefa is a member of the Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN) Steering Committee, representing indigenous and local youth. GYBN is the official youth constituency to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). She was named a National Geograp

The UNESCO Regional Bureau for Education in Asia and the Pacific, and UNESCO as a whole, and the UN system worldwide, have taken comprehensive action to address the COVID-19 pandemic’s impacts on education systems while acknowledging continuing challen

Prepare to have your mind blown. That is the mission of Mindblowon Studio, a name derived from the playful Indonesian slang “blo’on,” meaning “foolish.” Yet, their creativity is anything but foolish. Mindblowon Studio stands tall as an influential figu

“How do you create a movie that defines a generation?” This was the first question posed by The ASEAN in an interview with renowned Indonesian filmmaker Riri Riza, 53. It is a fitting question for Riri, whose film, Petualangan Sherina [Sherina’s Advent

Banjong Pisanthanakun, the acclaimed 44-year-old Thai filmmaker, turns Southeast Asian nightmares into worldwide movie masterpieces. He has a deep understanding of the allure of horror tales in the region, explaining that these beliefs are ingrained in

Thousands braved Jakarta’s blistering heat to experience the live music performances by talented Southeast Asian and South Korean artists at the 2023 Round Festival on 21-22 October 2023. After holding virtual concerts since the event was launched in 2

The ASEAN Youth Forum (AYF) was first held in 2009 in sync with the ASEAN Summit in Bangkok, Thailand. AYF is a youth movement that aims to provide a safe space for young ASEAN people to gather, connect, and build solidarity.