Brunei
Suits are recommended. English is widely spoken, however Bruneians adhere to the practice of using complete full names with all titles, including the title Haji (for men) or Hajjah (for women) for those who have made the Haj pilgrimage to Mecca. Office hours are usually 0745-1215 and 1330-1630 Monday to Thursday and 0900-1200 Saturday. Government office hours are 0745-1215 and 1330-1630 Monday to Thursday and Saturday
The crime rate in Brunei is very low, and violent crime is almost unheard of. There are occasional incidents of petty crime against tourists. Take particular care of your passport; avoid carrying anything you are not willing to lose; and do not leave possessions in unattended vehicles, even if out of sight in a locked vehicle.
Outside the main towns, accommodation is not available. The one hotel of international standard in Bandar Seri Begawan is the Sheraton Utama Hotel. Other hotels in the capital include Terrace Hotel, Riverview Hotel, Capital Hotel, Jubilee Hotel, Brunei Hotel and the Centrepoint. Hotels in Kuala Belait are the Sea View Hotel and Sentosa Hotel.
Full telephone IDD is available. The country code is 673. The outgoing international code is 00. Public telephones are available in most post office branches and main shopping areas and there is a private internal service. The post office's hours are 0745-1630 Monday to Thursday. Electricity is 230 volts AC, 50Hz. Plugs are either round or square 3-pin.
220/240 volts AC 50Hz. Plugs are either round or square three-pin.
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European food is served in hotel restaurants, along with Malaysian, Chinese and Indian dishes. Local food is similar to Malay cuisine with fresh fish and rice, often quite spicy. National specialties:
• Daging Masak Lada Hitam, spicy beef with potato beans.
• Udang Sambal Serai Bersantan, prawns with chilli and coconut milk.
• Serondeng Pandag, chicken fried with garlic wrapped in pandan leaves.Things to know:
Alcohol is prohibited, although it may be imported in certain quantities if reported to Customs. Most restaurants are open until 2100 or 2200 although this varies at the weekend. Tipping:
Most hotels and restaurants add 10 per cent to the bill.
