Brunei

Bandar Seri Begawan serves as the political, cultural and economic heart of Brunei, positioned in South-Eastern Asia. As the seat of government and often the most populous city, it concentrates the country's main institutions, universities and cultural landmarks. Beyond the capital, major cities include Kuala Belait, Seria — each a hub of regional culture, economy and history. Bandar Seri Begawan is one of the few capital cities with an inhabited water village — Kampong Ayer — where 30,000 residents live in houses built on stilts over the Brunei River, connected by wooden walkways in a settlement described by Magellan's crew in 1521 as a Venice of the East that has maintained continuity across 500 years.

With a population of approximately 440,000, Brunei is a vibrant society with a rich mix of traditions and communities. The official language is Malay, which reflects the country's cultural heritage and connects it with a wide international community. Internationally, Brunei is reached via the dialling code +673. Bruneians live under the Malay Islamic Monarchy (MIB) ideology, a state philosophy combining Malay culture, Islam, and the Sultan's authority that produces one of the world's most generous welfare states funded by petroleum revenues — free education, free healthcare, subsidised housing, and no income tax, creating a social contract unlike anywhere else in Southeast Asia.

Brunei spans 5,765 km², in the South-Eastern Asia subregion of Asia. Geographically centred around 4.5°N, 114.7°E, the country offers a diverse range of landscapes shaped by its location, climate and geology. Road traffic follows the left-hand rule, in line with surrounding Asia convention.

The official currency is the Brunei dollar ($), Singapore dollar ($), used for everyday transactions and commerce throughout the country. Brunei's economy is shaped by its geography, natural resources and trade relationships. Business and daily life operate under UTC+08:00, aligning the country with its regional neighbours.

Football / Badminton holds a special place in the heart of Brunei's national identity. Football and badminton compete for Brunei's sporting attention, but the Royal Brunei Polo Club indicates the Sultan's personal passion — polo played on imported Argentine ponies in a country whose oil wealth funds sporting infrastructure far beyond what its population size would sustain, including a national stadium that hosts matches occasionally attended by the Sultan himself.

The highest point in Brunei is Bukit Pagon, rising to 1,850 metres above sea level. Ulu Temburong National Park in Brunei's eastern exclave protects primary rainforest untouched by logging — accessible only by longboat through mangroves — where biodiversity surveys have documented species new to science, and the forest canopy walkway at 60 metres provides a vantage point for observing Borneo's wildlife in conditions of silence and isolation rare anywhere in the region.