Kampong Ayer

Kampong Ayer is the world's largest water village — a city built entirely on stilts above the Brunei River, connected by 36 kilometres of wooden boardwalks and served by a constant fleet of water taxis. Some 13,000 people live here in houses that range from modest wooden structures to concrete homes with air conditioning, satellite dishes, and speedboats moored below.

The best way to experience Kampong Ayer is to hire a water taxi from the Jalan McArthur waterfront (negotiate a rate of BND10-15 for a 30-minute circuit) and then get dropped off to walk the boardwalks. The village has its own school, clinic, mosque, and fire station — all on water. At dusk, when the golden dome of the Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque is reflected in the river and the water taxis are busy, it is one of the most memorable urban scenes in Southeast Asia.

things to do sight neighbourhood
A story
When Magellan's fleet arrived here in 1521, the Spanish sailors recorded a city of 25,000 people living on the water — larger than London at the time. The water village has been continuously inhabited for over six centuries. At its peak in the early 20th century, it had over 30,000 residents. Today the number is closer to 13,000, as younger Bruneians move to land, but the government has invested heavily in keeping the community functioning, with schools, mosques, and a fire station all built on stilts.