TUTONG DISTRICT

Covering an area of 1,166 sq km, this is the third largest district of Brunei. The town centre is in Tutong and it has a population of over 30,000. The people are from the Tutong, Dusun, Iban and Kedayan tribes. The majority of them are Muslims, either by birth or through conversion.

Seri Kenangan Beach

Pantai Seri Kenangan – Literally the unforgettable beach- is a popular recreation area at Kuala Tutong. Here, the beauty of the beach is enhanced by a narrow spit of land that has the South China on one side and the Tutong River on the other. Further along the road one passes through Kampong Kuala Tutong, amidst a forest of coconut palms, to reach the old jetty.

This was the site of ferry crossings over Tutong river before the present bridge was built in 1959. The beach is a 5-minute drive from Tutong town, and a lovely spot for picnics, fishing and swimming.

Tasek Merimbun

About 27km inland from Tutong is Brunei's scenic Tasek Merimbun or Lake Merimbun, an unusual "S" shaped black water lake which has been earmarked as an Asean National Heritage Site. Actually a flooded segment of a tributary of the Tutong River, this 120-hectare site surrounded by swamps and sedges, has gravestones that date back to the 15th century. History has it that this was once the burial ground of early Borneo tribes, notably the Dusun people.

Tasek Merimbun is also the nature lover's delight offering views of bird, plant and insect life. Altogether, the lake covers 7,800 hectares of Lake Wetland, peat swamp forest, fresh water forest and a lowland mixed Dipterocarp forest. A tiny island in the centre features a pavilion that provides visitors a place to picnic or just admire the view.

Sungai Basong Recreational Park

The Sungai Basong Recreational Park lies just five minutes from the Tutong town centre. One of the most popular spots in the district for picnickers and joggers, the park features 'Rumah Budaya' (cultural village) which showcases the five ethnic groups in the district - namely the Tutong, Kedayan, Iban, Dusun and the Chinese community. The exhibits also help to project the rich diverse cultures and the cultural identity of the different ethnic groups such as the Kedayan, Murut and Dusun people found in Tutong. The' Rumah Budaya' was constructed in 2001 at the cost of B$800,000 and is the only cultural house in the country.