Practical information Brunei

2228  sq.mi

Situated approximately 7, 000 mi from London. Expect at least one connection. The journey should take between 16 and 19 hours.

358098 hab.

The airport is 5 miles (15 min) from the centre of Bandar Seri Begawa. You will find car rental agencies in the airport hall. Hertz and Rental Car are represented here. You will also find taxis. Shuttles are organised by the hotels to receive travellers.

Brunei has one of the lowest crime rates in Asia. However, since the Bali attacks on 12 October 2002, the risks of acts of terrorism, even if they have no precedent here, cannot be ruled out.

The use and traffic of drugs are punished by the death penalty. You are strongly advised to respect the Muslim religion and the places of worship. Do not wear provocative clothes. Alcohol is forbidden. Seduction of a Muslim woman entails expulsion from the country. Do not criticise the royal family or make remarks about them.

A valid passport is needed. You won't need a visa if you are visiting for less than 14 days. For a longer stay, a visa is required. You need to pay £9.60 in cash, and bring a receipt of a return ticket and a form to fill in. Allow one to two weeks for delivery. It can be issued at the embassy in London.

The official religion is Islam (63%). There are also Buddhists (14%), and Christians (8%). Indigenous beliefs represent 15% of the total.

The currency is the Brunei Dollar (BND), which follows the rate of the Singapore Dollar. Bring travellers cheques in US Dollars, as you'll have no problem cashing them in banks and tourist hotspots. All credit cards are accepted (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Diner's Club, etc.) and you'll have no trouble finding an ATM machine in the towns. Banks are open from Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 3:00pm and on Saturdays from 9:00am to 11:00am.

For a short stay, the easiest thing to do is to use the taxis that function with a metre. It is possible to haggle the price of the ride. If you hire a vehicle, you should be aware that you drive on the left, and that outside the towns, the road system is limited. The territory is covered by jungle. Roads connect the capital to Muara, Tutong, and Kuala Belait. The minimum age requirement for driving is from 21 to 25 years, depending on the hirer. You will find buses between the main towns. In town, you will have the choice between taxis and boat taxis, whose price varies in accordance with the distance. Numerous flights connect the main capitals of the region, including Singapore and Hong Kong. Various travel agencies here offer boat excursions on the rivers to discover the villages. You have to find out at Bandar Seri Begawan.

Vaccination shots against cholera, typhoid, poliomyelitis and hepatitis A are recommended. A vaccination certificate will be requested if you are arriving from a zone contaminated with yellow fever. Drink water from bottles with caps on, and only eat well-cooked food. An HIV test will be requested if you are planning to settle in Brunei for a while (it won't be requested to tourists). Think of subscribing to repatriation insurance.

In case of health issues, contact Jerudong Park Medical Center. Tel:2 611 433. 2 611 433.
Emergency telephone number: 2 692 544. 2 692 544.

240 V. Adaptor needed.

From UK, dial the international code 00 (673) + the 7 figure number. This number begins with 2, for the region of Bandar Seri Begawan, and 3, for the region of Kuala Belait. From Brunei to UK dial 00 44 + the number.