It is definitely a lot less mainstream than a lot of other countries (ahem, social media), but I assure you it is a destination that should not be overlooked. Malaysia has so much to offer: amazing cuisine, stunning national parks, picturesque beaches, world-renowned aquatic life, rich history, and a vibrant culture.

Malaya was restructured as the Federation of Malaya in 1948 and achieved independence on 31 August 1957. Malaya united with North Borneo, Sarawak, and Singapore on 16 September 1963 to become Malaysia. In 1965, Singapore was expelled from the federation.

Malaysia. Malaysia is not considered a developed country, despite undergoing rapid economic development over the past five decades. Malaysia’s gross domestic product (GDP), per capita income, level of industrialization and overall standard of living are not on par with other developed nations.