MY · Terengganu · 5.33°N 103.13°E

pulau duyong

Wooden boats built by hand, the old Kota Lama Duyong house and kampung lanes in the river mouth.

Best time
March to October. November to January brings heavy monsoon rain, and the low island has flooded in bad years. Come in the morning, before the heat.
How long
Half a day
Getting there
Fly from KL to Kuala Terengganu (about an hour), or drive about 5 hours on the East Coast Expressway. The island is about 10 minutes' drive from the city centre, off the Sultan Mahmud Bridge.
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MY · Terengganupulau duyong5.33°N 103.13°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,Wooden boats built by hand, the old Kota Lama Duyong house and kampung lanes in the river mouth.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingPulau DuyongMY, Terengganu
KLpulau duyong
≈ 291 km from KL, as the crow flies
Gambar yang diambil pada tahun 2016.

Photo: Pensel Patah Tun Teja (Zuraini Zamri) · CC BY 4.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

A river island in the mouth of the Terengganu River, across the water from the city and crossed by the Sultan Mahmud Bridge. For generations its builders have made wooden fishing boats and yachts from chengal by eye, without plans. Only a handful of yards are left, which is reason enough to come now.

Makan

  1. Nasi dagangRice steamed with coconut milk and served with gulai ikan tongkol, the Terengganu breakfast.Map ↗
  2. Ikan bakarGrilled fish with air asam and rice, at the island's ikan bakar restaurants.Map ↗
  3. Keropok lekorHot from the roadside stalls, with chilli sauce.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. The boatyardsWatch hulls taking shape plank by plank, held together with wooden pegs rather than nails.Map ↗
  2. Kota Lama DuyongA walled house compound built in 1919, mixing Malay, Western and Middle Eastern touches, rebuilt after the 1986 flood and run by the state museum.Map ↗
  3. The kampung lanesOld timber houses, fishing boats and views across to the city and the drawbridge at the river mouth.Map ↗
  4. Duyong MarinaThe resort on the old Monsoon Cup marina, for a meal by the water.Map ↗

Good to know

  • The boatyards are workplaces. Ask before you walk in, and keep kids clear of the tools.
  • Pair it with Pasar Payang and Chinatown, just across the river.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.