Culture & Heritage

Temples, local markets and cultural experiences on Batam, from the Maha Vihara temple to Nagoya night market food stalls.

Articles in Culture & Heritage

Travel guides and articles filed under Culture & Heritage.

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Tengku Fisabilillah Bridge with its two pylons over the strait, on the Trans Barelang road that leads south to Galang Island

Culture & Heritage

Galang Refugee Camp: The History of the Boat People near Singapore

For 17 years, an island south of Batam was home to tens of thousands of people who had fled Vietnam by sea. What happened at the Galang camp, why it is remembered differently from other camps, and what you can still see today.

Sarah Tan · 30 October 2026 · 7 min read

Fresh seafood platter with clams, shrimp and oysters arranged on a wooden board with herbs and lemon

Culture & Heritage

The Best Seafood in Batam: A Guide to Eating Like a Local

From live lobster tanks at Harbour Bay to kelong restaurants over the water — Batam's seafood scene is one of the best reasons to make the crossing from Singapore.

Marcus Wijaya · 21 September 2026 · 8 min read