Kampong Ayer

Kampong Ayer was home to all sorts of residents in the Bruneian empire a century ago, from commoner to aristocratic. Despite the fact that most Bruneians have moved to solid ground as a result of modernity, Kampong Ayer and its 10,000 residents have managed to strike a balance between the old and the new.

Electricity, WiFi, and cable TV are available in Kampong Ayer, and many people drive their automobiles to work and then park them in a local carpark near the waterfront at night. Water taxis are still a popular means of transportation, and inhabitants enjoy the sense of community that comes with living in a close-knit community over the water, like the ancient Bruneians did.

Tourists can stay in a homestay or take a self-guided walking tour that starts at the Kampong Ayer Cultural & Tourism Gallery to get a taste of Kampong Ayer living. Visitors can take a one-minute water taxi journey from the city's shoreline for BND0.50 and pick up a tour map at the Gallery's reception. To return to the shore, simply hail a water taxi from the same jetty, or take a tour of the neighboring mangrove woods to see Brunei's riverbank wildlife, including proboscis monkeys, monitor lizards, and crocodiles!

Location: Located just off the Bandan Seri Begwan waterfront, Brunei

Highlights: The World's Largest Floating Village, Timber houses, the Venice of the East, ...

Best time to visit: January to May