Social Media, Queues & Price Shock: A Food Festival Snapshot

At a recent Brunei food festival at Stadium Negara Hassanal Bolkiah, social media users highlighted unusually high prices for common food items, including a reported B$75 fruit platter and B$30-B$35 lamb shank servings. These sparked public debate about festival pricing, consumer value perception and the influence of FOMO and social proof on spending. While festival operations may justify some premium, the price points prompted widespread discussion about whether the costs align with the product’s perceived value.

Disclaimer    This summary is based on publicly shared social media posts and community reactions. It does not represent official statements from event organisers or vendors and price or experience claims have not been independently verified.

🍉🍍 The Brunei Food Festival: When FOMO Meets “Festival Pricing” (& the Vendor Wins)

So… we’re back at it again. Another food fest, another viral vendor and another crowd lining up like it’s the end of the world 🌍😅. This time, the talk is about B$75 for a fruit platter - yes, you read that right. B$75. For fruit. 🍉🍍

📍 Where & When

This happened at the Brunei Food Festival (Stadium Negara Hassanal Bolkiah) - and it’s not the first time the crowd has been “tricked” into paying premium prices just because it’s an event.

🍽️ What Happened

A Facebook user posted a photo of a tray with:

• Three bowls of local fruits - mangga, biabas, kedungung, jambu
• Small tubs of cacah sambui + rojak sauce

And the total price was… B$75. 😳

The comments section exploded.

👀 The Reaction

People called it:

• “Highway robbery”
• “For B$75, I can give you a whole fruit basket”
• “What exactly are we paying for?”
• The poster even said: “There are so many suckers out there.”

And honestly? That’s the point.

📌 The Bigger Context

This isn’t the first time Bruneians have fallen for event pricing. Remember the B$35 lamb shank vendor that caused long queues and sold out? That same vendor was back again too.

And yes - it’s the same story:

• Long queues = social proof
• Viral hype = “worth it” mindset
• Scarcity = panic buying
• Small market = fast FOMO spread

💰 The Lamb Shank Side Story

December 2025, that lamb shank stall reportedly sold ~500 servings in one day, earning B$15,000 in a single day.

If the event ran 3 days, that could mean ~B$45,000 total.

Which is impressive… for the vendor.

But for consumers? It’s proof that hype sells better than value.

🤔 Why This Happens

Here’s the real deal:

Festival pricing is real, but it only works when consumers feel:

• “This is special.”
• “This is rare.”
• “Everyone is buying it.”

But when the product is ordinary and the price is absurd, it becomes obvious:

The Emotional Trap

People aren’t buying food.

They’re buying:

• the story
• the experience
• the bragging rights
• the “I was there” vibe

In short: FOMO + hype = emotional pricing.

😂 Funny But True

It’s like paying B$75 for fruit and pretending you’re doing a “luxury detox” when really you’re just hungry and gullible. 🍉😅

Or paying B$35 for a lamb shank and telling yourself, “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience,” while your stomach is thinking, “Bro, I can eat two meals for that.”

🧠 My Take

I won’t spend like that - especially in the current economic condition.

I failed economics in school, but at least I know when I’m being robbed 😌

✔️ Conclusion

Food festivals should be fun, not a trap.

Hype and scarcity may sell, but value still matters.

So if you’re going to buy, at least ask yourself:

“Am I paying for the food… or for the story?”