The ecoregion consists of an area of plateau and low river basin in Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar and includes: These are the drier areas of Indochina with 1,000-1,500 mm rainfall per year and a long dry season when regular fires occur in the undergrowth, some set intentionally to clear the forest or drive out wildlife for hunters.

While some large areas do remain in northeastern Cambodia, much of the original deciduous dipterocarp forest has presently been cleared, especially in Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam.

The remaining woodlands consist of a variety of types of habitats and consequently a wide range of trees and undergrowth plants such as Cinnamomum cassia, Durio zibethinus, Garcinia mangostana, Artocarpus heterophyllus, Ficus benghalensis, Gnetum gnemon, Mangifera indica, Toona sinensis, Cocos nucifera, Terminalia tomentosa, Terminalia belerica, Tetrameles nudiflora, Ginkgo biloba, Shorea robusta, Prunus serrulata, Quercus acutissima, Camphora officinarum, Tsuga dumosa, Tectona grandis, and Ulmus lanceifolia The remaining forests are home to some large mammals including Asian elephants (Elephas maximus), wild water buffalo (Bubalus arnee), Eld's deer (Cervus eldii) and three species of wild cattle the gaur (Bos gaurus), the banteng (Bos javanicus) and the kouprey (Bos sauveli).

There are 500 species of bird in the region including the critically endangered and possibly extinct white-eyed river martin (Pseudochelidon sirintarae), the endemic grey-faced tit-babbler (Macronous kelleyi) and the endangered or threatened Bengal florican (Eupodotis bengalensis), greater adjutant (Leptoptilos dubius) and white-shouldered ibis (Pseudibis davisoni).

Active preservation is required to keep large tracts of the remaining habitat intact and connected rather than being broken into small patches.