Cities and regions／Brunei
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Bandar Seri Begawan

Brunei’s capital, Bandar Seri Begawan, offers a way to encounter river life at Kampong Ayer, a community of stilt settlements a short distance from the city centre.

Bandar Seri Begawan
Photo by Tuya70 Source: Wikimedia Commons Licence: CC BY-SA 3.0
The place

What makes it special

  • Visit the Kampong Ayer Cultural and Tourism Gallery for context on the settlement’s history and crafts.
  • Walk a section of the boardwalks and see how the river connects homes and jetties.
  • The Malay Technology Museum adds context on techniques and activities associated with river life.
Walkway and stilt houses in Kampong Ayer, Brunei.
Photo by Jorge Láscar from Melbourne, Australia Source: Wikimedia Commons Licence: CC BY 2.0
Bandar Seri Begawan
Photo by Yu Chu Chin Source: Wikimedia Commons Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0
Travel atlas

Articles in Bandar Seri Begawan

Guides to this place

2 articles

Bandar Seri Begawan

journal.travel Editorial

Guides to this place

2 related guides

Stilt houses and water taxis in Kampong Ayer on the Brunei River.

Kampong Ayer on foot and by water taxi from Bandar Seri Begawan

A leisurely visit to the village on the river: which walkways to explore, how to hire a boat and why to add a museum to the route.

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Walkway and stilt houses in Kampong Ayer, Brunei.

Kampong Ayer in Brunei, where boats connect a living neighbourhood

Kampong Ayer is best understood as a network of inhabited neighbourhoods, jetties, walkways, schools and small local economies—not as a photo excursion. This guide suggests a slower visit: start with context, then take a boat, and only afterwards walk, making practical choices about negotiating the fare, respecting privacy and recognising accessibility limits.

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Information in context

Sources and references

This profile summarises our destination guides. Their research sources and the geographical reference are listed below.

Profile updated: 30/09/2026