Kampong Ayer, Brunei - World's Largest Floating Village

Kampong Ayer, Brunei Overview

Located just off the Bandan Seri Begwan waterfront, Kampong Ayer is the world’s largest (and oldest) water village. The entire settlement is on water and the buildings are built on stilts on Brunei River, making it popular as 'Venice of the East'.

A walk through Kampong Ayer via the footbridges is mesmerising. The pastel coloured houses and stilted mosques that dot the horizon make for a beautiful backdrop for pictures too. The friendly people, traditional food items and the waterboats add to the experience. Some lucky travellers might get to see weavers in action in the heartland of the settlement.

Interesting Facts About Kampong Ayer

Kampong Ayer isn’t any ordinary overwater city- this mini metropolis is spread out over the Brunei River and is just a stone’s throw away from the mainland of Brunei.
One would think that such a settlement would be rural, cut off from the modern world but in reality, all modern amenities are common and popularly available. There is full access to electricity, clean water, WiFi and satellite networks.
Kampong Ayer was dubbed as the “Venice of the East” in 1521 by Venetian voyagers.
All classes of people used to live in the stilted city. However, once the British came to Brunei in the 19th century, they pushed the people to live on land as they were unfamiliar with the water based settlement.
Today, Kampong Ayer’s population is on the decline as more and more people switch to the landed portion of Brunei. Those who remain wish to retain the centuries-old way of life and customs of the city.

Highlights & Attractions

Houses- Since Kampong Ayer has such a highwater level, all the houses are built on stilts in the water. The quaint styles of houses and the stilts make for a wonderful sight to see.
Mosques- There are a number of mosques in the area that are frequently habited by the locals.
Interactive People- The people of Kampong Ayer are known to be very friendly and travellers can enjoy conversations with them, exchange stories and have a lot of fun.
Traditional Sweet Shops- A large part of Brunei’s local foods are the traditional sweets. Kampong Ayer is home to some of the oldest sweet shops filled with mouthwatering delicacies and shop owners who are more than willing to tell you all about them.

How to Reach Kampong Ayer

The waterfront of Bandar Seri Begawan is a very popular site for boats and travellers can easily hire one of the boats to take them to Kampong Ayer. The boats have a standard fare of 1 Brunei Dollar and are very convenient to travel by, but not accessible for differently abled persons.