Malaysia and even Thailand are not considered part of Indochina. Indochina consists of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia only. Singapore certainly is not part of Indochina. It is separated from the Malay Peninsular by the Strait of Johor.
I have lived in Malaysia all my life and people in Malaysia never consider the country part of 'Indochina'. It is a foreign term for Malaysians. Indochina refers to only Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. It is offensive for Malaysia and even Thailand to be called Indochina.
Sort of the same thing with the US being part of Oceania. Part of it definitely is, most of it definitely isn't - but where does that put the whole country?
does anyone read the instructions? "Type the countries that are at least partially located on the Indochina peninsula" It doesn't matter whether Malaysia is part of Indochina or not, or whether it is considered on the Indochina peninsula or not for that matter, but whether it is at least partially located on it.
Seems that some comments from a Thai might be needed here. For Thais, this region have two peninsulas; Indochina and Malay.
They are usually considered separately. Thai people, btw, consider mostly consider their country as part of both peninsulas; upper part in Indochina and Southern in Malay, culturally. Malaysia, however, is mainly considered as part of Malay Peninsula, along with Southern of Thailand. However, some people might consider only Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia, all are ex-French colonies, as Indochina, and some also includes Burma. Please be noted that this is how Thai people think, not the technical definition.
People are confused because French IndoChina is talked about so frequently they start to think that this is the same thing as IndoChina. It's not. It's only part of it.
Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia are more associated with Indochina because they were part of French Indochina, whereas Thailand and Malaya were not, but they are but of Indochina nevertheless. (I'm from Malaysia by the way)
Because it's between India and China. Literally. The term was coined by a Scottish poet, John Leyden, who lived in India in the early 19th century. The oddity and inappropriateness of the name was commented on from the very beginning, but it still stuck somehow.
Indochinese peninsula? Yes
They are usually considered separately. Thai people, btw, consider mostly consider their country as part of both peninsulas; upper part in Indochina and Southern in Malay, culturally. Malaysia, however, is mainly considered as part of Malay Peninsula, along with Southern of Thailand. However, some people might consider only Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia, all are ex-French colonies, as Indochina, and some also includes Burma. Please be noted that this is how Thai people think, not the technical definition.
Nuff said!