Brunei Darussalam Hotels

Places & Activities

Golf	Diving, Sailing & Water Sports	Other Activities
Shopping in Brunei	Handicrafts & Souvenirs	Shopping Centres

Shopping in Brunei

Bruneians love to shop, and shopping is one of everyone’s favourite leisure time activities. These days, with shopping complexes popping up throughout the nation’s four districts, shopping opportunities in Brunei are beginning to draw an international audience as well.

Shoppers are generally spoilt for choice in Brunei. From traditional markets and tiny boutique shops to huge shopping complexes, visitors and locals alike will find opportunities to indulge their shopping fancy. Offering a wide variety of goods at incredibly competitive prices, shoppers can pick up anything ranging from market trinkets sold at 50 cents to chandeliers and antique furniture priced at a few thousand dollars.

There are many unique treasures that can be found in Brunei, including earthenware ornaments, gilded curios, exotic furniture designs, Chinese urns, brocade tablecloths, mats and door hangings, Indian finery, Thai haute couture, the latest electronics – all of these and more can be found tucked away in some corner of a dusty shop or glittering department store.

It is easy to shop in the Sultanate because all major credit cards (American Express, VISA, Diner’s Club and MasterCard) are widely accepted.

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Handicrafts & Souvenirs

Brunei is especially rich in its own style of traditional crafts, ensuring that any of your buys at one of the nation’s many handicrafts centres and shops will be unique items to be treasured for years to come. Some examples include the resplendent gold or silver-threaded material known as Jong Sarat and collector textiles called Kain Tenunan, both of which can be purchased from the Arts and Handicraft Training Centre at Kota Batu and also at the Brunei International Airport. Handmade with an ancient method passed down for generations, Jong Sarat is often worn during weddings or other formal occasions. Aside from traditional cloths, other items that reflect the rich craftsmanship of Brunei are brassware and silverware, replica canons, the traditional dagger known as the kris, gongs, basketry and other unique items.

Some of the best places in Brunei to find traditional handicrafts can be found at the shops and centres listed below:

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Shopping Centres

From market stalls or syarikats to multi-storey department stores, for souvenirs specific to Brunei or international favourites, a number of stores have been listed below.

The largest shopping mall in Brunei is the majestic Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Complex in the capital. This is a breathtaking piece of architecture with ample parking for visitors and houses a wide array of upmarket boutiques and shops. New to the shopping scene is the elegant complex The Mall in Bandar Seri Begawan.

One of the largest chain stores in Brunei, Hua Ho Department Store is a popular one-stop shop for locals. There is a wide selection of groceries and designer goods available.

In addition, downtown Bandar Seri Begawan, Kuala Belait and Seria sport a variety of modern air-conditioned outlets and older shop houses. There are also a number of shops at Bandar Seri Begawan International Airport where visitors may purchase duty free items, CDs, sports equipment, chocolates, as well as books on Brunei and the region.

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