Binjai is a city in North Sumatra.

Understand

The origin of Binjai when it established itself as a city is unknown. Historically, the Binjai area was situated between two Malay kingdoms, Deli and Langkat. Binjai grew from a small village on the edge of the Bingai River.

According to both oral and written accounts of the history of the area, the city of Binjai grew from a small village located on the edge of the Bingai River, approximately where the Pekan Binjai village is located today. Traditional ceremonies were held to lay the foundations of the small village in the shade of a large binjai tree at the edge of the Bingai River, which flows into the Wampu River, which is navigable for a large portion of its length.

Around the tree were built several houses, which were gradually enlarged, until finally a village hall was built. A lively port also developed, visited by barges from Stabat, Tanjung Pura, and the Strait of Malacca. Over time, the Binjai tree gave its name to the growing city.

Get in

• 1 Binjai railway station (Timbang Langkat Station). (updated Oct 2024)

Get around

Two major public transport within this city are becak (a three-wheeled motorised vehicle), and small minibusses called Angkot ("Angkutan Kota", Eng.="City Transport").

See

• 1 Tugu Perjuangan 1945. (updated Oct 2024)
• 2 Binjai Great Mosque. (updated Oct 2024)
• 3 Setia Buddha Vihara. (updated Oct 2024)

Do

• 1 Bingai River (Binge River). Rafting (updated Oct 2024)

Buy

• 1 Binjai Supermall. (updated Oct 2024)

Stay healthy

There are 7 hospitals in Binjai:

• 1 Rumah Sakit Tentara Binjai (RS Korem 023 Binjai).  
• 2 RS Umum Binjai (Dr. Djoelham).  
• RS Bangkatan. 
• 3 RS PTP IX. 
• RS Bidadari. 
• 4 RS Umum Latersia.  
• 5 RS Umum Artha Medica.  

Go next

Binjai is also an important transit point for visitors to Bukit Lawang, in the Gunung Leuser National Park, an important site for the conservation of the red orangutan. Bukit Lawang is located 68 km west of Binjai.