Matang Teungoh – a small village in North Aceh Regency, in Cot Girek District
Matang Teungoh is an Indonesian village (desa) that belongs to Cot Girek kecamatan (district), located in Kabupaten Aceh Utara (North Aceh Regency), in Aceh Province, in northern Sumatra. Based on the settlement's coordinates, it is situated approximately at latitude 5.10 degrees north and longitude 97.37 degrees east, in the interior of Aceh near the Strait of Malacca. The seat of Kabupaten Aceh Utara is Lhoksukon, following the declaration of the former seat, Lhokseumawe, as an independent municipal administrative unit (kota otonom). According to data from the end of 2023, the regency has a population of approximately 628,000 people.
General overview
Matang Teungoh is one of the villages of Cot Girek kecamatan. Cot Girek district is located in the eastern-interior areas of Kabupaten Aceh Utara and, like most of the regency's interior districts, is primarily characterized by agricultural and small-community features. The village lacks broad international or tourist recognition; in the available sources, it has no documented attractions, distinctive industries, or outstanding infrastructure for which verifiable factual data would be available. Based on the broader population of Kabupaten Aceh Utara (627,543 people, end of 2023), this is a densely populated regency, though the population is significantly concentrated on the coast and around major cities, while the interior districts typically contain smaller, more scattered villages. The characteristic administrative unit of Acehnese villages is the gampong, led by a geuchik (village chief) according to local traditions and the rules of decentralized administration. Aceh Province operates as a special autonomous territory within Indonesia, which affects both administrative and legal frameworks.
Real estate and investment
Independent, publicly available real estate market data for Matang Teungoh and Cot Girek district is not accessible, so the following outlines the generally verifiable relationships applicable at the broader level of Kabupaten Aceh Utara and Aceh Province. The economy of Kabupaten Aceh Utara has traditionally been determined by oil and gas activities, agriculture (particularly palm oil and rice), and fishing. In the interior, rural areas of the regency, real estate prices are typically considerably lower than in coastal cities or the provincial capital, Banda Aceh. It is important to note that in Indonesia, land acquisition by foreign nationals is generally strictly regulated: as a general rule, foreign individuals cannot acquire property with Hak Milik (full ownership) status, but may only hold property on more limited, time-restricted bases (e.g., Hak Pakai). This general Indonesian legal framework also applies to Aceh Province, where, in addition, special autonomy and local customary law may also influence transactions. From an investment perspective, rural, interior Acehnese villages are less attractive to foreign investors; in the region, rather the coastal zones, industrial corridors, and areas near cities command greater activity.
Safety and security
Concrete, verifiable public security statistics are not available for Matang Teungoh or Cot Girek district. Viewing the broader context, Aceh Province has been considerably more stable in terms of public security since the 2005 Helsinki peace agreement than during the period of armed conflict. According to widely accepted assessments, Aceh is considered a relatively safe province within present-day Indonesia with regard to organized violence, though—as in other rural Indonesian areas—challenges arising from infrastructural isolation (e.g., availability of emergency services) may be present. Aceh Province applies Islamic law (sharia) in daily life, which also determines the local regulatory environment, and for which visitors should prepare themselves. In case of any extended stay or investment decision, it is advisable to inquire with local authorities and reliable on-site sources regarding current conditions.
Tourist attractions
No documented tourist attractions are listed in available sources for the area of Matang Teungoh. Likewise, no documented point of interest with verifiable source support is available for Cot Girek district. At the broader level of Kabupaten Aceh Utara, the most well-known tourist and cultural attractions are typically associated with the coastal zones and the nearby city of Lhokseumawe; these include the region's oil and gas industry heritage, as well as the general presence of Acehnese culture and Islamic traditions. Due to the distance from the provincial capital, Banda Aceh, the interior districts, including Cot Girek, are only rarely featured in tourist offerings. Those wishing to explore the northern regions of Aceh typically depart from Lhokseumawe, which has better infrastructure and is more easily accessible.
Summary
Matang Teungoh is a small Acehnese village in Cot Girek kecamatan, located in Kabupaten Aceh Utara, in northern Sumatra. Detailed, factual local data on the village is available only to a limited extent publicly; the broader North Aceh regency, with a population of approximately 628,000, provides the context for an area with an agricultural and petroleum industry background. The interior-located, rural settlement possesses no documented special characteristics from either a tourist or real estate market perspective; however, it forms part of the special autonomous province of Aceh, whose legal and cultural particularities apply to all those residing there.
