Bandar Seri Begawan

Introducing Bandar Seri Begawan

If you’re expecting some kind of lavish mini-Dubai, think again – Brunei may fancy itself as an oil state, but there’s no nouveau-riche ostentation here, and the country’s capital is as polite and unassuming as its people, wearing its wealth almost prosaically in places. The most interesting buildings in the quiet centre, eg the main mosque and the bigger shopping malls, certainly reflect the expenditure put into them, but without much sense of flashiness, and on the whole there’s little to distinguish BSB, as it’s usually known, from any medium-sized city in Malaysia. You’ll have to head to the suburbs to start to see the stupendous riches at play here.

For most visitors, BSB forms the entirety of their experience of Brunei, and while there’s plenty to keep you occupied for a couple of days, the city itself is unlikely to inspire any great devotion. However, if you take the time to relax and talk to the locals, you may find you start to understand what makes this modest metropolis tick.

Last updated: Feb 17, 2009