Kampung Ayer (kahm-PONG AH-yuhr)[2] is a prominent traditional settlement in Bandar Seri Begawan, the capital of Brunei.

It comprises neighbourhoods of traditional houses, schools and mosques built on stilts above the Brunei River near the capital's city centre.

[5][4] The present name 'Kampung Ayer' is the obsolete romanised spelling of the Malay term 'Kampung Air', which literally means 'Water Village'.

[6][7] The primary settlement area of the de facto capital of Bruneian Empire at the time,[8] Kampong Ayer, would have existed as early as the 1363–1402 reign of Sultan Muhammad Shah.

The houses are all constructed of wood and built up from the ground on tall pillars.There is a possibility that the stilt settlement might not have always been where it is today, that Kampong Ayer might have undergone relocation throughout history.

[4] Common utilities may include electricity, pipe water, telephone lines, internet access and television services.

Nevertheless, Sayyidina Umar Al-Khattab Secondary School, which is built on land, also has catchment area in some villages of Kampong Ayer.

Originally built on stilts, these homes were made of sturdy materials that fit the local temperature and environmental circumstances, such nibung, kulimpapan, and bulian wood.

The rumah potong limas used contemporary materials like timber stilts and processed walls with traditional design components.

The rumah berlanggar added a chamber, forming an L-shaped building that accommodated both religious rituals and everyday household needs.

The basic architectural concepts, such as elevated dwellings and adaption to the water-based environment, remained essential to the village's character even as building materials and methods changed.

Kampong Ayer is a place where tradition and modernity continue to coexist, as seen by the buildings like Bubungan Dua Belas, which combine Brunei Malay and Western architectural aspects.

[17] As a major historical and cultural heritage of Brunei, there has been increasing concern on the survival of Kampong Ayer in modern times.

[18] The diminishing population, added with the busy modern lifestyle, are threatening the survival of the customs and traditions practiced in Kampong Ayer.

[18] The floating of rubbish and sewage on the waters of Kampong Ayer is a persisting issue despite substantial measures and initiatives taken by various government and non-government agencies.