BRUNEI
Opening
Hours & Festivals
Government offices in Brunei open Mon-Thurs & Sat
7.45am-12.15pm & 1.30-4.30pm; shopping centres open daily
10am-10pm. Banking hours are Mon-Fri 9am-3pm and Sat 9-11am. Post
offices are open Monday to Thursday and Saturday 7.45am-4.30pm
; for details of the GPO in Bandar.
Most of Brunei's festivals have no fixed dates, but change annually
according to the lunar calendar, so check with the tourist office.
During Ramadan , Muslims spend the ninth month of the Islamic
calendar (Jan-April) fasting in the daytime; during this time
it is culturally sensitive for tourists not to eat or smoke blatantly
in public during daylight hours. The festival celebrations of
most interest to tourists include Brunei National Day (Feb 23),
when the Sultan and 35,000 other Bruneians watch parades and fireworks
at the Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium, just outside
Bandar Seri Begawan; Hari Raya Aidilfitri , the end of the Ramadan
fasting period (March/April), which is marked by the annual opening
of Brunei's royal palace to the public; Brunei Armed Forces Day
(June 1), when Bandar's square hosts parades and displays; and
His Majesty the Sultan of Brunei's Birthday Celebrations (July
15), which kicks off a fortnight of parades, lantern processions,
traditional sports competitions and fireworks.
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