Vietnam Village
Vietnam Village
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Duration: 2-3 hours
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles39 reviews
Excellent
11
Very good
20
Average
6
Poor
2
Terrible
0

helloooooooworld
NY32 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2022
Interesting place with a friendly guard at the small museum. Though he only spoke Bahasa, he was trying to share some explanations of it. The exhibits were quite limited, but some were quite moving. Given the historical significance of this place, it could be a major attraction around Batam, if renovated properly.
Written 6 November 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Gary D
Busselton, Australia594 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2019 • Couples
280k Vietnamese passed through this site between 1979 and 1996...and the world seems to know ZIPPO about it.
This needs money spent on it BIG TIME, as it is predominantly in decay...although some churches are being renovated. This is, after the Bridge, the supposed No 2 Tourist attraction in the Batam Island Group...and if restored, could be so, so much better.
An absolute eye opener, and so glad we visited...but, it has so much potential to shine...not only for Batam, but out of respect to the Vietnamese who were uprooted from their homelands here.
There were barracks, homes, churches, schools, administration blocks, hospitals...with the jungle wining the battle in most areas
Well worth the drive....but, please...throw some good money at it Indonesia...it deserves it!!
Written 7 April 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

shernellt
Trinidad230 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2018 • Friends
After reading some reviews about this place, I thought it might be a good place to visit. Depending on where you’re coming from in Batam would determine how long the journey would be. We were staying at Tanjung Piayu, a bit south of Batam Island, so we got there in about 40 minutes by car. You have to cross about five or six bridges to get to this place, as it is situated on the island of Gelang. You must have your own transportation to get here, preferably car or private bus. There is no public transportation to get there and by motorcycle would be too tiring as the journey is very long. Along the way it’s all trees, hills and open water (across the bridges). It’s a straight road to get there so you won’t really get lost. Just follow google maps or ask the locals on the way. We were three adults and two children, so we paid Rp 30,000 to enter. The various places to visit are quite far from each other. You can’t really walk, so you need your vehicle to drive to each one. There are toilets at every location, but no where that sells food, drinks or snacks. You’ll have to prepare and bring your own food.The various places include:
1. Catholic Church
2. Buddhist Temple
3. Protestant Church
4. Boats that transported refugees
5. Section with deer (you can feed them)
6. Museum (lots of info here)
7. Small jail
8. Hospital

Along the way on the compound there are lots of monkeys. Be careful if you stop your vehicle to feed them.

One disappointing thing is that many of the buildings were in a dilapidated state. Some were being repaired while we were there and others just seemed abandoned. Hopefully in the coming months they’ll be repaired.

All in all, it was a good learning experience, especially at the museum with lots of photos, paintings and explanation on how the Vietnamese people came as refugees to the island.

Written 10 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

kuu-kanko
Helsinki, Finland843 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2018 • Solo
I wanted to see the bridges between the islands and seeing that the Camp Vietnam is on the second last island from Batam decided to visit there on the same trip.

The camp area is vast and needs to be toured by a car. I took a taxi from Nagoya and it took a bit over an hour to reach the camp. The entrance fee was 5000 rupiah for me and an additional 10000 for the car. After the gate there was a signposted road to follow (with some signs also in English, but not all).

Most of the camp buildings were already gone so it was difficult to imagine that you were actually in a former camp. Almost all of the remaining buildings were just left to rot. Some of them had already collapsed, some were still standing but they were empty. Practically nothing to see in them.

Only a few buildings were maintained. Amongst them was a small museum which consisted of three rooms with paintings, photos and a model of the camp when it was in operation. The museum was being expanded so hopefully they would add something more in the future.

There is also a cage with deers in it and monkeys in front of it begging for food. That was the cute part of the visit.

A refugee camp like this would have the potential of showing moving stories of the people who lived in it. Unfortunately this place does almost none of that. You would have a significantly better visit with a guide who could tell the stories.

Even though there was not much to see the entrance fee is so small that I wasn't disappointed. I would have gone past the camp anyhow visiting the islands. For going to the museum alone I wouldn't find the trip from Batam worthwhile.
Written 20 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

caroltay2018
Singapore, Singapore401 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2018 • Couples
Was quite an experience to visit the village where the refugees had stayed.. the place was a big area but currently it serves as a park for visitor only..
Written 31 July 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

meteor101
Batam, Indonesia58 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jul 2017 • Family
This is the most interesting place must visit in Batam. It is a big place and far way from Batam City. You need to book a car to go there. You will stop in the Barelang Bridge for taking photo. In Vietnam Village, there are Temple, Catholic Church, Retreat place for Catholic, cementary, old prison and hospital. Also, you can visit some beaches with white sand for relaxing.
Written 1 July 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Indra Muhtadi
Cimahi, Indonesia387 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2016 • Business
This is the second time I went here. The 1st one was about 9 years ago. Back then, the condition of this Vietnamese Village was still OK, but this time many of the building parts are broken and need lots of attentions.
In my humble opinion, Indonesian and Vietnamese government should pay more attention to this place preservation and its existence. The history of this village will disappear if we don't do something about it. I gave rating poor was because its condition, not because anything else. Because other than the condition of the old structure and building, this place is worth a visit when you are in Batam, especially if you love history.
Written 25 May 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

iwanwibisono
Bali, Indonesia12 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2017 • Couples
This was a refugee camp from Vietnam during 1976 - 1996. It is located in Galang Island about 1 hour drive from Batam Centre. The place is very huge and green.
There are few spots to visit such as: the original boat that was used by the refugees, the museum, the church and the buddhist temple.
We only visited the museum and the buddhist temple cause it was one day after Ramadhan / Lebaran so lots of local tourists visited this place.
The interesting parts of the museum are:
1. The photo of former Indonesia president, BJ Habibie, with last group of refugees whose sent back to Vietnam
2. The paintings made by the refugees
3. The daily equipments used by the refugees (water kettle, etc)
4. The site plan of the whole area
Across the museum there is a small barrack. We saw in one of the rooms, it only has 2 single beds and a table.
After that we drove again and visited the buddhist temple which is still well maintained and actively used by the local people to pray.
Other than that we can see the old barracks, youth centre, cemetery, etc but all of those buildings are ruined and probably not save to enter but just looking from outside.
Written 26 June 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mr_K0h
Singapore, Singapore10 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2016 • Friends
Visitors visiting the village must come with tour group or self drive. Not recommending for walkers as the Village is big.
Written 23 September 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Hetty M
Bintan Island, Indonesia383 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2018 • Family
Still no. 1 place to visit during our holiday in Batam.
Place you can learn about how Vietnam people reach, stay and leave Bintan during that period.
Entrance about IDR 5.000 per person and car will charge IDR 5.000.

However about 50% of the place has no refurbishment, many broken histories. We really need those broken to be reform, this is historical and still many Vietnameses come to visit this place to remember the history or to educate their childrens and other tourism
Written 19 September 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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