Kampong Ayer, Historic water settlement in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
Kampong Ayer is a large water village built entirely on stilts over the Brunei River, spanning approximately 6.2 square miles (10 square kilometers) and connected by about 24 miles (38 kilometers) of wooden walkways.
The settlement has existed for over 600 years, with the earliest communities dating back to the 14th century during Sultan Muhammad Shah's reign between 1363 and 1402, when it served as an important trading port for the Brunei Empire.
Around 13,000 residents live in this water village, maintaining traditional ways of life across approximately 40 interconnected smaller villages, each with its own schools, mosques, clinics, and shops built over the water on wooden stilts.
Water taxis called perahu tambang operate throughout the village, stopping at various jetties that serve as transportation hubs, while wooden walkways allow residents to travel on foot between different sections of the settlement.
This settlement is the largest water village in the world, where entire communities have lived continuously on stilts above the river for centuries, preserving traditional boat-building skills and water-based customs passed down through generations.
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