The story of Hang Tuah, the legendary 16th-century Malay warrior, is well known in many parts of South-east Asia, notably in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.

Streets have been named after him (in Kuala Lumpur, Melaka and Jakarta) and the Malaysian and Indonesian navies have also named their ships after the legendary hero who is said to have served his sultan loyally, including as laksamana or admiral. In many ways, the story of Hang Tuah is not only a tale of Melaka, but also one that spans the region and tells us how pre-colonial South-east Asians once viewed the world around them.