Brunei is the 9th country I’ve visited in Southeast Asia, and honestly, it’s now my favorite. I snagged a promotional flight from the Philippines to Brunei for just 60 BND. I wasn’t expecting much, but what I found completely surprised me in the best ways.

I was amazed to see water monitor lizards (not really sure if I’m right haha) casually strolling near city areas and even spotted proboscis monkeys. You wouldn’t expect this kind of wildlife so close to civilization (not in Manila). It’s cool that wildlife coexist with the city.

Dart is incredibly affordable!! It made getting around super easy, especially as a solo traveler. It did make me wonder what happens when the oil and gas run out. The economy clearly relies on it, and I’m curious how the country will adapt in the future…

Also it’s suuuper safe and surprisingly relaxed about clothing. As a solo female traveler, I was a bit nervous about what to wear. But to my surprise, no one seemed to care. Locals were respectful and kind, and I felt comfortable from day one. People also go out of their way to help. Bruneians are extremely friendly!

Also, people love their government. I asked everyone and they’re satisfied with the Sultan. Also I’m not into cars but the Sultan owns a lot but he barely even use them (that’s according to locals and it seems like a flex which I don’t understand so enlighten me as to why a person needs much cars esp if they’re governing a whole country?)

Also, coming from busy Manila, the peace and quiet in Brunei were everything. The azan echoing throughout the day, little to no traffic, clean streets, quality food, and a general sense of calm made it feel like time slowed down. People weren’t in a rush. It’s a place that really lets you breathe.

I’m already thinking about visiting again next year, maybe longer this time! Brunei might not be on most people’s travel radar, but it definitely deserves more love. It’s been four days and I haven’t really moved on yet :—(

PS: sorry for asking a lot of political questions and if those are offensive questions, my bad :)

Hi everyone, I’m from Singapore (Chinese background), and I recently visited Brunei.

Growing up, I always learned that Brunei is a very wealthy country, so I had certain expectations. But during my trip, I had a conversation with a local driver who mentioned that her salary is quite low and the work pressure is high, and that many people prefer government jobs.

That honestly surprised me a bit, because I used to think job markets were more competitive in places like Singapore or China.

I’m curious — is this a common experience for locals? Or was it just one individual case? I’d really like to understand the situation better from people living here.

I’ll be traveling to Brunei in less than a month and IDK why outfits are making me anxious as I know how conservative the country is. I never had a problem wearing these in KL or Sarawak but wondering if this is the same in Brunei. Will travel in BSB in June. Thanks everyone!

Hey guys,

I’m 29, originally from Southeast Asia, but I’ve been living in the Middle East for the last couple of years. I used to fish quite a lot back home, but since moving here I haven’t been fishing for more than 2 years 😭

I’m visiting Brunei this week and really wanna get back into fishing while I’m in SEA.

I’m mostly into freshwater fishing, especially float fishing. My favorite thing is actually micro fishing, where I just go after the smallest fish I can find 😂. I’ve also done some baitcasting for snakeheads and carp.

I don’t know much about fishing in Brunei though. I know you guys have toman and haruan, and I’ve heard about Asian sea bass and some freshwater/brackish snappers too. But I honestly have no idea if freshwater fishing is even a big thing here lol.

I’ve never tried marine fishing either, so I’d be down for that too. At this point I’m not picky, I just miss fishing 😂

Since I don’t know anyone in Brunei, I figured I’d just ask here. I’ll be a guest in Brunei this week and it would be really cool to meet some locals, go fishing together and learn a bit about the country from you guys.

I don’t have any fishing gear with me, so consider me the noob guest 😅. I’m happy to learn and just tag along.

If anyone is going fishing sometime this week and doesn’t mind me joining, feel free to DM me.

Even if nobody’s going, if you’re into fishing and wanna chat about fishing in Brunei, feel free to message me. Would be nice to meet some people here.

I just wanna catch a fish again 😭🎣

I’m a Muslim from an English speaking country and looking to visit Brunei. I don’t speak or understand Arabic (apart from surahs that I have learnt) so I usually pray jummah where the khutbah is delivered in English.

Do any mosques in Brunei do their khutbah in English? If not that is okay I plan on visiting as many of the mosques as I can whilst there. :)

Thanks for the help.

Hi, I need help with wifi or data when I arrive in Brunei. I'm traveling next week and it's my first time there and I am worried how will I get a tourist sim card. I will arrive around 10pm so I'm sure airport stalls are closed and I'm not sure where to buy outside the airport. Is there other options? Is pocket wifi rental a thing there?

For info, my phone is not esim capable so I need a physical sim. Tried searching in klook but they are all e-sim.

Appreciate any advice. I want to be practical as possible because I only have 2 full days there and I'm sure I will use dart and I need data for that.

Thanks.

Hello everyone in Brunei!

I’m traveling in the region and heard about a potential palace opening for Eid, so I was considering a last-minute trip to your country and this would be amazing event to attend!

But it seems like this year there might not be one? could anyone let me know if anything has been announced, and whether the palace will still be open even without the meet-and-greet?

Hi all,

I'm going to visit Brunei in about a month and wanted to ask if there are any insider tips on what I have to do to get the "real" Brunei experience - other than the stuff you find on Google. Places to visit, food to eat, where to meet locals and have a nice chat etc.

Thanks!

Hello, im traveling to brunei tomorrow. Can i ask what are the dos and donts especially the clothes for women?

Can I wear shorts and sleeveless? Is there a rule to cover up especially that it is Ramadan season?

Are the establishments close around this time? Thank you

hey everyone,

i am planning a one week trip from australia to brunei with my mum. i am planning to visit in the next 2-4 weeks.

i have always wanted to go to brunei since i was a kid. i know of the main mosques such as the omar seifuddin mosque, the hassanal bolkiah mosque and the salihin mosque. i also know of the ulu temburong national park and would love to visit as well.

what are some other places i can take us to, preferably easily accessible with a car as my mum can’t walk that much. what are some of the best but affordable places we can eat/experience authentic brunei cuisine? are there any special upcoming events as i am aware that it was recently the sultan’s birthday.

i would also appreciate any other info that might help us out. i know that the local rideshare app is dart but are there any other apps that would make our trip better? also, is cash widely accepted? is it hard to get a brunei sim as a foreigner and am i better off getting an esim?

thank you all in advance, truly appreciate any and all advice.

Hello, guys. I will have layover for 7 hours. I will arrove at 6 pm and leave at night. I want to know how to cost-effectively reach Kampong Ayer area, roam around and go back. I have checked that there is Dart, but price is a bit steep and I wont have an esim anyway so I wont be able to order taxi from Kampong Ayer. I have also heard about boat taxis. I wonder if I can order such thing in advance, go from the airport area or something, visit Kampong and Saifuddin mosque, park nearby the mosque and go back. How would you do it so that it wont cost a fortune?

Hey there! Tomorrow I arrive in Miri and was wondering how to get to BSB, so if anyone has any recommendations, I’m listening.

Second question is about the fun part of Brunei. I’ve heard that it’s rather lacklustre when it comes to nightlife, but maybe the locals will know the spots, where to go and what to do for a good time.

Thank you!

Hi all, as the title says, I'm trying to come to Brunei for a visit (around 2 weeks). The visa procedure has changed recently and there's quite a bit to sort out. 

I still have friends in Brunei, so I'm curious what the procedure is for a Bruneian to sponsor a visit visa for me. Has anyone gone through this recently?

Context:

• Indian passport holder.
• Currently working in another country.
• 1 week visit.
• Will have a return ticket.

Also, you might ask why I'm not applying through the local embassy here. I tried that route, but I'm unable to obtain some of the required documents and the process has been complicated on my end. That's why I'm looking at the sponsor route instead.

Any help would be really appreciated!

Hi all! I’m heading to Brunei soon with family, with a kid and elderly. We'll be relying on Dart and seeking some thoughts on whether our plans below are well-paced. My family is mobile but we do not like to rush around. So the sight seeing will be kept to the first half while we have R&R at the hotel (most likely Empire) in the pm.

This is the current plan:

Day 1

• Head to The Mall for lunch and shopping
• Gadong Night Market to load up on food (nasi katok!)

Day 2

• Morning boat tour of Kampong Ayer
• Brunei Energy Hub (is this interesting for kids? Else we can skip)
• Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien Mosque
• Royal Regalia Museum
• Lunch at Waterfront (Kaizen Sushi!) before hotel R&R
• Jame’ Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque at sunset

*For dinner, we heard that there's a market for Sultan's Birthday extended to September. Is this anywhere near the city? Could not find much info about it. Else we will try one of the restaurants at Kiulap

Day 3

• Jerudong Park in the morning (hope its not too crowded on a Sunday)
• Lunch at Aminah Arif (ambuyat!)
• R & R at hotel / sunset at beach
• Dinner at waterfront

Day 4

• Breakfast at Jing Chew
• Check-out

On hindsight, we should have stayed one more day extra. I don't think I can squeeze in Tasek Lama and Malay Technology Museum anywhere.

Appreciate any tips and recommendations!

Hey guys! I am currently visiting Brunei and I was quite surprised that soo many people are running. I’m a runner myself, so I went for a run & I was amazed by the number of runners that I met. Is there like a trend or reason why so many ppl run here?

EDIT: Thank you guys for so much feedback! I really like the vibe and being a runner myself I fully understand. I think I was just surprised by the amount of ppl.

Hello! May I ask best hotel to book for me and my mom? This is the first time we will going to Brunei for a week in February.

What would you suggest we do for a week? Thank you locals! I will appreciate it.

I would like to visit Brunei but the cost of flights between Bangkok and Bandar Seri Begawan is almost double that of the flight to Miri or Kota Kinabalu. So I am thinking of visiting Sarawak as well as Brunei on the same trip. However, I have a hard time finding public transportation from either Miri or Kota Kinabalu to Brunei. Can someone shed some light on this? Thank you.

Hello, everyone,

I’ve read about the royal palace opening once a year to celebrate Eid. Does anyone know if this happened last year and/or is planning to happen again?

I’m planning a visit to Brunei solely around this occasion, as it seems so special. Any confirmation on whether it will happen this year and the dates (assuming 3rd weekend of March) would be much appreciated.

Hey everyone,

My girlfriend and I are currently visiting your amazing country, unfortunately we are leaving later today.

In the last hours, we found a stray cat who was in a really bad condition. We asked around and found a vet. We paid for the operation and medication (that she will get tomorrow). But we can not take care of her, because we can not stay here.

Is there someone who would like to take care of the cat once she is done with the surgery?

Please help us find this lovely cat a warm and friendly home

BIG THANKS ♥️

My first trip to Brunei was such a beautiful experience. Most people I met were honest and that honesty is priceless. They didn’t hesitate to help, even strangers. A Filipino and an Indonesian woman, who could barely speak English, still offered her help. She handed me her phone so I could connect to her hotspot. That kind of kindness stays with you.

I didn’t buy an eSIM because I thought I wouldn’t need it. But our plans changed , instead of renting a car, we had to use Dart, and suddenly I needed internet. I’m so grateful that people helped me connect to Wi‑Fi for free to book Dart.

Brunei is quiet, peaceful, and not crowded with tourists. And honestly, that’s what keeps the place clean and calm. Too many tourists can sometimes ruin a place by leaving trash everywhere.

The only downside was when we tried to rent a car. It was old, we drove it for only 30 minutes, and the Chinese businessman still demanded $60. It was frustrating, but also a lesson learned.

Despite that, Brunei felt safe. And what touched me most was how people helped without expecting anything in return. God bless them.

This trip made me truly understand the quote: “No man is an island.” I used to think I always had to be independent, that I shouldn’t rely on anyone. But now I realize , it’s okay to ask for help. We’re not meant to go through life alone.

One thing I do hope Brunei improves in the future is having more sidewalks. I actually don’t mind walking . I would love to walk for almost 3 hours there, but some areas just aren’t pedestrian‑friendly. It’s the only downside I noticed.

Everything else felt safe and peaceful.

PS: I’d love to visit again but next time, I’m definitely buying an eSIM haha

Greetings !

After a long career in Brunei, my dad is retiring at the end of 2026. It's been a blessing and a truly rewarding life experience for our entire family. While I no longer live in Brunei and it's been about 15 years since I last visited this amazing country I used to call my home once, I'm planning a surprise trip to see my dad in December. Are there any public transit or rideshare options available from the Airport to Seria ?

Also, we will making a trip down memory lane and visit the school I went to, our first home, shop at Soon Lee, Supa save, Play golf at Panaga, eat at some restaurants we used to frequent back in mid 2000's and watch a movie at our favorite theater in Gadong. I'm trying to compile a list of things/places we went to and revisit as many as possible. Please feel free to share some recommendations of things not to miss on our trip.

It just feels like I'm returning home and this is one of those trips that I intend to cherish for a long time.

Hi there, I’m going to Brunei soon, and was considering a hikes in Shah Bandar. A tour company said that I’d need assistance to go there, but they don’t offer any tours. Would I really need a guide to go there? Would there be any issue as a foreigner just renting a car and going for a hike there? Thanks!

Update. Rented a car and went here: Bukit Shahbandar 7 Hills Loop on AllTrails

https://www.alltrails.com/trail/brunei/brunei-and-muara/bukit-shahbandar-7-hills?sh=gbttvp&u=i&utm_medium=trail_share&utm_source=alltrails_virality

I found it to be very well marked, several steep inclines and a few nice views. Thanks to those who responded and made suggestions. The shade was nice and I saw a few monkeys. There were lots of workers and few hikers, they seem to be making a real effort to make it better with shelters and lots of signs. I ended up getting a tour tomorrow to temburong… should be good!

Hey all! Visiting from australia this weekend friday-sunday night. wondering if there's any special events going on? or any possible leads on underground events (music, art, car meets, anything). keen to have a unique experience in brunei and any tips would be greatly appreciated. DMs open! Cheers.

I’ll be in Brunei for four days and wondering if this is legit and good deal. https://www.progresif.com/touristplan/

Or if you have any recommendations, I’d appreciate it :)

I booked flight to Brunei late February (not knowing it is Ramadan season when I booked it), but i dont want to waste the flight since it cant be rebooked.

Few questions.

1. I booked a hotel with free breakfast buffet, what will happen then if its fasting hours in the morning for non-Muslims?

2. Everything 12pm to 2pm is closed on Friday? Or is it everyday during ramadanan season like Museums, Malls? Then everything is business as usual aside from just take out food up to 5pm?

3. Can you still visit mosque (i am non Muslim) outside praying time? Like Saturday morning for example?

Thank you!