Countries in East Asia each developed their traditional ships with distinct characteristics. There are records from the early 15th century in China and around the 17th century in Japan, of sailing far out into the seas for the purposes of trade and diplomacy. However, unlike the West, East Asian nations did not actively promote overseas expansion due to state policies and domestic and international environments, resulting in far fewer long-distance voyages. Consequently, most East Asian ships were designed for navigating coastal waters. Let's examine the representative ships of China, Japan, and Vietnam.

The most prominent ship displayed at the top is the model of Zheng He's ship from China. This large sailing vessel dates back to the Ming Dynasty and was used for Zheng He's overseas expeditions. Zheng He was a general, explorer, diplomat, and politician of the Ming Dynasty who undertook seven major expeditions under the command of Emperor Yongle. The Zheng He fleet was centered on roughly 60 large 'Treasure Ships'(Baochuan), surrounded by approximately 100 smaller vessels, forming a fleet of about 200 ships in total. The ships of the Zheng He fleet were categorized based on their functions: Horse Ships for transporting horses and cargo, Grain Ships for food supplies, Command Ships for battle command and troop transport, Warships for combat, and Water Supply Ships for providing water.

This is the "Model of a Red Seal Ship," a long-distance trading vessel. During the 16th to 17th centuries, the rulers of the Edo period in Japan issued 'Shuinsen' permits that allowed merchants to profit from overseas trade. Ships carrying these permits were known as "Red Seal Ships." Influential merchants from various regions of Japan who received these permits would dispatch trade ships to various parts of Southeast Asia.

Lastly, there is the "Model of a Ghe bầu" from Vietnam. This was a large merchant ship equipped with sails, representing a type of Vietnamese vessel capable of safely navigating rough seas. The Ghe bầu is notable for its ability to withstand challenging ocean conditions.