Independent travel to Singapore 2025 - Suggested itinerary and attractive experiences

1. Singapore – A paradise for independent travel for Vietnamese people

1.1 Why should you travel to Singapore on your own once in your life?

Singapore is a small island nation but possesses ideal conditions for independent travel: modern public transport infrastructure, absolute security, friendly tourism services and a visa exemption policy for Vietnamese people for 30 days. If you are looking for a "civilized - compact - beautiful" destination to plan your own itinerary and decide your own experiences, then independent travel to Singapore is definitely an option you should try at least once.

Unlike many countries that require you to travel by taxi or tour, Singapore allows you to explore every corner with just an EZ-Link card or Tourist Pass. Traveling independently in Singapore 2025 is even more convenient with a series of supporting apps such as CityMapper, Klook, Google Maps, etc.

1.2 Experiences only available in Singapore for independent travel

• Marina Bay Sands : Not only is it an iconic hotel, this is also where you can see the whole city from SkyPark or walk around Marina Bay with a super "fancy" night view.

Hot check-in locations in Singapore

• Garden by the Bay : Beneath the towering “supertrees” is the Garden Rhapsody light show that takes place every evening. You can walk around the garden or buy tickets to enter the Cloud Forest – a greenhouse with the world’s tallest indoor waterfall.

  

World's tallest indoor waterfall - Singapore

• Universal Studios Singapore : Spend a full day experiencing over 20 cinematic rides and shows. Perfect for groups of friends or couples.

Must-visit amusement park when coming to Singapore

• Street food at hawker centres : Chili crab, laksa, Hainanese chicken rice, frog porridge... are all easy to find for under 10 SGD/portion at famous food centres such as Maxwell, Newton, Lau Pa Sat.

Featured dining places in Singapore

2. Suggested itinerary and featured places to visit

2.1 3 days 2 nights itinerary

Day 1 – Singapore Icons

• Morning: Fly to Changi Airport, enjoy the green space and indoor waterfall at Jewel.

• Noon: Check in at Bugis or Chinatown area.

• Afternoon: Stroll around Marina Bay – visit Merlion, Helix Bridge, take pictures at ArtScience Museum .

• Evening: Watch Garden Rhapsody show and have dinner at Lau Pa Sat.

Day 2 – Fun at Sentosa

• Morning: Take the cable car across Sentosa, visit Madame Tussauds or play the luge.
  
  

• Lunch: Explore Universal Studios or SEA Aquarium.
  
  

• Afternoon: Relax at Palawan or Siloso beach.
  
  

• Evening: Dine at VivoCity and watch the sunset.

Day 3 – Culture & Shopping

• Morning: Visit Buddha Tooth Relic Temple in Chinatown, have breakfast with dimsum.

• Noon: Travel to Kampong Glam, visit Haji Lane and Sultan Mosque.

• Afternoon: Shopping at Bugis Street, go to airport.

2.2 5 days 4 nights itinerary

Day 1 – Singapore Icons

• Morning: Fly to Changi airport, visit Jewel with indoor waterfall.

• Noon: Check in hotel in Chinatown/Bugis.

• Afternoon: Visit Marina Bay, take pictures of Merlion, Helix Bridge.

• Evening: Watch the Garden by the Bay light show, dinner at Lau Pa Sat.

Day 2 – Full Day Fun at Sentosa

• Morning: Take the cable car to Sentosa, check-in Madame Tussauds.

• Noon – afternoon: Experience Universal Studios/SEA Aquarium.
  Evening: Eat at VivoCity, return to the center to rest.

Day 3 – Cultural Discovery

• Morning: Visit Buddha Tooth Relic Temple (Chinatown), eat dimsum.

• Noon: Travel to Kampong Glam – visit Haji Lane, Sultan Mosque.

• Afternoon – evening: Shopping at Bugis Street, trying local food.

Day 4 – Go to Johor Bahru (Malaysia)

• Morning: Through Tuas or Woodlands border gate, complete procedures to enter Malaysia.

• Lunch: Have fun at Legoland or Premium Outlet.

• Afternoon: Have Malaysian food like nasi lemak, do some light shopping then return to Singapore.

• Evening: Rest or take a light night walk.

Day 5 – Chill out before going home

• Morning: Rent a bike at East Coast Park, relax by the beach.

• Lunch: Visit the pretty cafes in Tiong Bahru or Arab Street.

• Afternoon: Return to hotel to get luggage, go to airport to end trip.

3. Experience of independent travel to Singapore 2025

3.1 Ideal time to go to Singapore

Singapore has a hot and humid climate all year round, with no winter. However, the best time to visit is from February to April or September to November , when the weather is dry and pleasant. Avoid December due to heavy rains and high ticket prices due to festivals.

3.2 Hunt for cheap tickets and book smart

• Round trip tickets cost around 2-4 million if booked 2 months in advance.

• Priority to Scoot, Vietjet, Bamboo or AirAsia.

• In areas near MRT such as Chinatown, Bugis, Lavender, Geylang.

• Using Agoda, Booking or Airbnb is fine with a budget of 500k - 1 million/night.

3.3 Moving around the city

• MRT + Bus : convenient, accurate, clean. Buy EZ-Link card at the airport.

• Grab : easy to call but a bit expensive. Use it when traveling in a group to save money.

• Walking : many areas such as Bugis – Arab Street or Marina – Clarke Quay are within walking distance.

3.4 What to eat and play without getting "ripped off"?

• Prioritize eating at hawker centers such as Maxwell, Chinatown Complex, Lau Pa Sat - where the quintessence of Singaporean cuisine converges, prices range from only 3-6 SGD/dish.

• Avoid eating at crowded tourist areas if you don't see clear price lists.

• For sightseeing tickets, it is advisable to book online in advance on the destination's official website or platforms you trust, to avoid queues and often get a discount.

• If you follow Tatinta's itinerary, don't forget to check out the combo package that includes tickets and detailed instructions - both convenient and economical.

4. Review of independent travel to Singapore from Tatinta community

“I went for 4 days, spending about 9 million in total. Flight ticket was 2.5 million, stayed in a hostel for 3 nights, ate flexibly and still had a great time!” – Linh, 26 years old, Ho Chi Minh City

“Sentosa is really worth the money. We went to Universal, took the cable car and had BBQ on the beach. It felt like a vacation and fun at the same time.” – Duy Anh, travel vlogger

“It was my first time traveling on my own but I didn’t get lost at all. Each MRT station had clear directions, and the Garden by the Bay light show was as awesome as a science fiction movie.” – Tu Anh, student in Hanoi

FAQs – Singapore Self-Guide Travel Guide

1. Do I need a visa to travel to Singapore on my own?
No need. Vietnamese are exempt from visa for up to 30 days. However, Singapore customs is quite strict, so you should prepare a return ticket, hotel booking and basic itinerary to present if asked.

2. How much money is enough to go to Singapore?
Depending on the schedule, but for a 3-day, 2-night trip, about 7-10 million VND/person is enough (not including airfare). If you eat at hawkers, stay at hostels and book tickets early, it will be even cheaper.

3. Is Singapore as expensive as rumored?
Yes and no. If you eat at a high-end restaurant it will obviously be expensive, but hawker centres are very cheap – only 3–6 SGD/meal. Travelling by MRT is also much cheaper than taxis. It’s all about planning.

4. Do I need to buy a phone SIM?
You should buy a 4G SIM or eSIM from Vietnam in advance (price only 100-150k/5GB), or buy at the airport. Some hotels, MRT, malls have Wifi but you should still have 4G to check maps, book Grab, buy e-tickets...

5. Where is the best place to exchange Singapore money?
Exchange a small amount in Vietnam (about 2-3 million VND) at large gold shops, and exchange the rest in Chinatown or Mustafa Center . You should not exchange at the airport because the exchange rate is usually lower.

6. How many days is a reasonable self-guided itinerary?
If you just want to visit the center and Sentosa, 3D2N or 4D3N is fine. If you have more time, go for 5D4N to visit Johor Bahru (Malaysia) or experience more at East Coast Park, Tiong Bahru.

7. Is it okay to travel alone in Singapore?
Absolutely fine. Singapore is one of the safest countries in Asia. Women traveling alone can still explore freely, just be careful to protect your personal belongings, like going anywhere else.