The Desire to Study in Brunei

Today’s story starts from yesterday afternoon when I first rolled into Brunei. After waiting over 30 minutes at the Bandar Seri Begawan bus station in a light drizzle, I picked up on a few things:

• Buses were around, but the schedules were a mess—random numbers everywhere. Felt like they were heading way out, not just circling the city.
• A couple of taxis—2 or 3—kept looping past. I was the only guy sitting solo, so one taxi buzzed by me nearly 10 times. I even memorized the driver’s face and her car’s colors.

First taxi run-in was a riot. I was waiting for a friend to pick me up, looking clueless since their Facebook avatar was blank. Taxis here don’t scream “taxi”—they’re just regular cars. This one crept up, window down, and we stared at each other. She had Asian vibes, maybe Vietnamese, and waved like she knew me. I waved back, thinking she was my ride. She signaled me to hang tight while she looped around—took her 2-3 minutes to switch lanes, when I could’ve crossed in a few steps. When she pulled up and spoke English, I clocked she was a taxi driver. Gave her a “sorry.” We crossed paths 5 or 6 more times after that. I kept passing, she kept offering—always with a big grin. Friendly or stubborn? Haha 🙂

• The station was dead—like a ghost town. No vendors, no chatter—just a few buses rolling out on time. You can imagine how dull it was.

Then my friend showed up—late enough for me to scope out the whole place. I ribbed him about taking forever, haha. He’s the one who offered to help me before I came to Brunei. Another friend tagged along to grab me, and somehow, the three of us later turned into the crew’s eat-and-explore ringleaders.

UBD – University Brunei Darussalam

That afternoon, after dropping my other friend at class, my friend took me to the dorms at the University of Brunei Darussalam (UBD). It’s slick—think high-end apartments back in Vietnam—split into two zones for guys and girls, each with 4 blocks. Nestled in the university’s lush, green campus, it’s packed with perks: a common room, soccer field, parking, and covered walkways all over. Perfect for living and studying—if you’re a research nut, you’d struggle to find better. Plus, you can grab a secondhand car for 3,000-5,000 USD, and gas is cheaper than water. That fired me up to study here after my friends gave me the rundown on programs that match my vibe. How could it not? The campus is jaw-dropping, dorms are luxe, and life quality’s top-notch. In the room I crashed in, 4 guys—3 PhD students, 1 Master’s. I was bunking with future profs or big shots. For the first time in ages, my itch to learn sparked back up after years of just wanting to bail on college for work.

That night, everyone wrapped up, cooked, and asked about my trip. Normally they eat solo, but with a guest, each pitched in food for a shared meal. It turned into a chance to tease each other’s cooking—playfully, of course. For me, that first meal was warm and special—my first go at living with Vietnamese students abroad. No matter where, Vietnamese folks always bring that heartfelt vibe when you’re far from home.

Another surprise: post-dinner, my friends invited some girls from the women’s dorm over. I got to thank the friend who first hit me up and linked me with my pickup buddy. Another friend was there too—she nearly became my mentor when the crew nudged me toward an Asia Research Institute scholarship, part of UBD’s lineup. Thanks to that, this morning she took me on a UBD tour—where everyone studies and works. We kicked off at her institute to meet her professor. It was just after Tết, so folks brought Vietnamese goodies to share with profs and friends—she did too. After scoping her institute, she led me to the guys’ research labs. A full morning touring UBD just cranked my study buzz higher.

Jerudong Fish Market

After dinner, my friends drove me to the fish market—a daily staple for them. Beyond supermarket runs, students hit the market for fresh, varied seafood that’s cheaper than stores.

Jerudong’s a suburb northwest of the capital, Bandar, about 15 miles (25km) out—a small fishing hub in this Islamic nation. We rolled in at noon as fishermen hauled boats back. Seeing cars tow little fishing rigs ashore backed up the rich-Brunei rumors I’d heard. It was probably off-peak—I missed the morning rush—but I bet it’s epic with dozens of cars dragging boats in. They hitch a metal frame to the car, back it to the dock, slide it under the boat, and gun it to shore.

Inside, the market’s a color explosion. I was floored—pretty sure they sell shark fins! Small ones right there on display. Wild stuff!

They grill fish too—walking by, you can’t dodge the tempting smell of fresh catches sizzling over coals. Beyond fish and seafood, there’s fresh veggies, fruit, rice, and heaps of bananas—all with a simple, local charm.

Empire Hotel

After snagging dinner goods at the market, we headed back to prep the fish, but swung by the famous 6-star Empire Hotel on the way. Travel tips hype it as a must-see in Brunei for backpackers. It’s not steep for a 6-star—starts at 300 USD a night for two.

Not much to say—pop in if you’ve got time.

The Rest of the Day

That afternoon, when my friend got back from class, my other friend drove us to the beach to hang. We chatted about everything till dark, then headed back for dinner. I fumbled around for pics but got nothing decent—snapped my friends, then turned the camera on myself.

My first day in Brunei was packed and full of fun. At 10 p.m., my friend and I hit the city center, 12 miles (20km) away, staying out past midnight. I got to see mosques glowing at night—pure dazzle.