Thailand is part of the South East Asian Indochina peninsula, neighbouring Burma, Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia, and has maritime claims within the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea. The kingdom of Thailand was unified in the fourteenth century and remains the only country of South East Asia to have never been ruled by a European colonial power.
Today Thailand is a popular travel destination as its lush, mountainous jungles attract many tourists to the North, whilst warm, tropical beaches offer year-round sunshine in the South. Approximately 90% of the population is ethnically Tai, of which 40% have Chinese ancestry. Various minorities comprise the remaining 10% of the population including Thai Malays, Burmese, Mons, Khmers and a diverse array of 'hill tribes'. Thai is the official language and Buddhism the major religion.