This Tangerang Subdistrict Has a Unique Name: Bencongan

A number of regions in Indonesia are known for their unique names. One of them is in Tangerang Regency, namely the Bencongan subdistrict. Bencongan is located in the Kelapa Dua District. The area is known as one of the locations for a housing project, or Perumnas, during the New Order era. Additionally, Bencongan is known for a sacred tomb that is frequently visited. The name Bencongan itself has no connection to the word ‘bencong’, which can be found in the Indonesian dictionary. Bencongan Subdistrict Head Bai Subiat said the name Bencongan has various origins. One of them comes from the name of a figure from the past. “Oh no, not at all, there is no connection. So, when people from Bencongan tell outsiders they are from Bencongan and get a slightly mocking response, like ‘bencong-bencong’, that is considered a form of insult to the residents of Bencongan. So, there is absolutely no connection to the word bencong,” Bai said at his office on Wednesday (5/8/2026). He said the name Bencongan is often associated with a Chinese figure named Ben Cong An. He said this figure was known as a generous person. “The closest origin is taken from a person of Chinese descent known here as Ki Ben Cong An, from Ben Cong An. He was reportedly a landlord in the past. He was known for his kindness, often giving charity; he was a philanthropist,” he said. Bai said there is also a theory that Bencongan comes from the word ‘mencong’. Local residents interpret ‘mencong’ as a winding road. “Yes, one source says that too. From the word mencong. That is the case,” he said.