Brunei Safety
As far as Southeast Asia goes, Brunei ranks alongside Singapore for safety though not being as developed it is advisable for visitors not to stray too far off the beaten track without a guide. Crime is little heard of, as are scams, and visitors are free to roam every corner of the country.
Brunei enjoys one of the safest political and social climates in the world, a boon to travelers in search of an Islamic nation with a secure environment. Not only is this tiny sultanate free from malaria and most other common tropical diseases which ravage neighboring countries, is also happens to lie just outside the typhoon belt. There are is no volcanic activity in Brunei, nor is the country prone to earthquakes or other severe natural disasters.
Thanks to a very stable and organised government, and an impressive level of economic prosperity across the board, Brunei has a very low rate of crime. Offenses against foreigners are extremely rare, and punished severely to deter future criminals. Despite the fact that Brunei is overwhelmingly Islamic, it has no known fundamentalist Islamic terror groups within its borders. Thus, both Muslim and non-Muslim visitors can expect a pleasant and interesting experience when they travel to Brunei.
One thing to remember, however, is despite this nation’s notably tolerant views on Islam and the behavior of non-Muslims, visitors should be careful not to brazenly break any of their religious rules. The police have a religious branch which monitors all activities which go against the Islamic code. Foreigners who break these laws are likely to face stiff penalties.
Crime: Brunei’s crime rate is extremely low, meaning that tourists should be able to travel through the country without experiencing crime. However, it is advisable to take the usual precautions such as avoiding carrying large amounts of cash and photocopying documents such as travel papers and ID.
Scams: fraud and other types of scams are heavily punished in Brunei and travelers are rarely targeted. However, it is a good idea to take care when changing money.
Political hotspots: there are no political hotspots in Brunei due to the stability of and general support for the country’s government.
No-go areas: visitors to Brunei are free to explore wherever they wish as there are no areas of the country that are off limits.
