The district has a unique architectural heritage of wooden homes with ornate interiors.
The villages in Water Village are Mukim Sungai Kedayan including Bukit Salat, Sumbiling
Lama, Sungai Kedayan 'A', Sungai Kedayan 'B', Ujong Tanjong and Kuala Peminyak;
Mukim Tamoi including Tamoi Ujong, Tamoi Tengah, Pengiran Kerma Indera Lama, Pengiran
Tajuddin Hitam, Ujong Bukit/Limbongan, Pengiran Bendahara Lama; Mukim Burong Pingai
Ayer including Burong Pingai Ayer, Lurong Dalam, Pandai Besi 'A', Pandai Besi 'B',
Sungai Pandan 'A', Sungai Pandan 'B', and Pengiran Setia Negara, Pekan Lama; Mukim
Peramu including Peramu, Pekilong Muara, Bakut Pengiran Siraja Muda ' A', Bakut
Pengiran Siraja Muda 'B', Bakut Berumput and Lurong Sikuna; Mukim Saba including
Saba Tengah, Saba Ujong, Saba Laut, Saba Darat 'A' and Saba Darat 'B'. Mukim Sungai
Kebun including Setia 'A', Sungai Siamas/Ujong Klinik, Setia 'B' Sungai Kebun, Bolkiah
'A' and Bolkiah 'B'.
People have lived in Kampong Ayer for over 1300 years. Antonio Pigafetta dubbed
it the "Venice of the East" when the fleet of Ferdinand Magellan visited in 1521.
The district is a culturally important part of Brunei that preserves the nation's
river dwelling origins. According to geography professor Abdul Aziz of the Universiti
Brunei Darussalam, this is the largest and most famous water settlement of Southeast
Asia. "It was historically the very core of Brunei and one of the most important
centres of trade in Borneo." In order to preserve Kampong Ayer as Brunei Darussalam's
most valuable heritage, the Government through the District Office has provided
it with numerous facilities including foot-bridges, concrete jetties, piped water,
electricity supplies telephones, a school, mosques, clinics, a police station and
a marine fire station. All of the six water village mukims (districts) are collectively
known as the water village (Kampong Ayer) but are identified as separate mukims
for administrative purposes.
Visitors can have a personal experience of this heritage by taking one of the many
water taxis that ply daily between the water taxi jetty in front of the Yayasan
Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah in the centre of town and the water village itself.