Southeast Asia · Singapore

Singapore Travel Guide

Flights, places to stay, and the best things to do in Singapore for travelers flying from Vietnam.

View flight dealsBuild my trip plan
Singapore Travel Guide
Currency
Singapore Dollar (SGD)
Language
English, Mandarin, Malay, Tamil
Timezone
UTC+8
Flight Time
2 hours from HCM

Overview

Singapore packs an outsized punch for a city-state smaller than Ho Chi Minh City. It's the cleanest, safest, and most efficient city in Southeast Asia, with a food scene that earned UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage status. For Vietnamese travelers, Singapore is a 2-hour flight and offers visa-free entry for up to 30 days. The city is a perfect mix of cultures — Chinatown, Little India, and Kampong Glam sit within walking distance. Gardens by the Bay alone is worth the flight.

Flights from Vietnam

SGN → SIN
Ho Chi Minh City → Singapore
Compare prices from 87 airlines
HAN → SIN
Hanoi → Singapore
Compare prices from 87 airlines

Where to stay

Budget$30–60/night

Geylang / Lavender

Authentic local area with the best durian stalls and hawker food. MRT accessible. Not touristy.

View hotel options
Mid-range$60–130/night

Bugis / Kampong Glam

Cultural district with Arab Street, Haji Lane, and Sultan Mosque. Great cafes and vintage shops.

View hotel options
Luxury$200–600/night

Marina Bay

Home to Marina Bay Sands, the ArtScience Museum, and Gardens by the Bay. Iconic skyline views.

View hotel options

Things to do

Gardens by the Bay

Supertree Grove (free), Cloud Forest and Flower Dome (ticketed). The light show at 7:45pm and 8:45pm is free.

Explore option →

Hawker Centres

Maxwell Food Centre (Chinatown), Lau Pa Sat (CBD), and Old Airport Road. Chicken rice $3-5. The cheapest Michelin meal in the world.

Sentosa Island

Universal Studios, S.E.A. Aquarium, and beaches. Take the free Sentosa Express from VivoCity.

Explore option →

Chinatown Heritage Walk

Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, Sri Mariamman Temple, and the best bak kut teh. Walking tour takes 2-3 hours.

Marina Bay Sands SkyPark

Observation deck on the 57th floor. $23 SGD entry. Best at sunset. Infinity pool is hotel guests only.

Best time to visit

February – April

Driest months. Less humidity. Comfortable for walking.

Year-round

Singapore is tropical year-round (27-33°C). No bad season, just wet (Nov-Jan) and less wet.

Travel tips

  • 1

    Get an EZ-Link card for MRT and buses. Singapore's public transit is world-class — you don't need taxis.

  • 2

    Chewing gum is banned. No eating or drinking on MRT. Jaywalking fines are real.

  • 3

    Hawker food is incredible value — $3-8 per meal. Don't eat at tourist restaurants in Clarke Quay.

  • 4

    Grab works perfectly in Singapore. Use it instead of street taxis.

  • 5

    Free WiFi at most malls and MRT stations. But an eSIM is recommended for maps.

Practical FAQ

Q:When is the best time to visit Singapore?

A:February to April is the best window for Singapore: these are the driest months, with less humidity and the most comfortable conditions for walking around the city. That said, Singapore is tropical year-round at 27–33°C, so there is no genuinely bad season — only wetter months from November to January and slightly drier ones the rest of the year.

Q:How long is the flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Singapore?

A:The flight from Ho Chi Minh City to Singapore takes about 2 hours, making it one of the easiest short-haul trips from Vietnam. A two-hour hop means Singapore works well for a weekend break or a stopover, and with only a one-hour time difference from Vietnam there is no jet lag to worry about.

Q:What currency and time zone does Singapore use?

A:Singapore uses the Singapore Dollar (SGD) and sits in UTC+8, one hour ahead of Vietnam — 12pm in Hanoi is 1pm in Singapore. English is an official language alongside Mandarin, Malay and Tamil, so signage and service are easy to navigate for Vietnamese visitors. Free WiFi is common at malls and MRT stations.

Q:Which area of Singapore should I stay in?

A:In Singapore, Geylang and Lavender are the budget areas at roughly $30–60 per night. Bugis and Kampong Glam are the mid-range sweet spot at about $60–130 per night, walkable and full of character. Marina Bay is the luxury address at around $200–600 per night. Singapore's MRT reaches all of them quickly.

Q:What should I do and know before visiting Singapore?

A:In Singapore, plan for Gardens by the Bay, the hawker centres, Sentosa Island, a Chinatown heritage walk and the Marina Bay Sands SkyPark. Get an EZ-Link card — Singapore's MRT and buses are world-class, so you rarely need taxis. Also note the rules: chewing gum is banned, no eating or drinking on the MRT, and jaywalking fines are enforced.

Read more about Singapore

Travel Guides

Singapore in 3 Days: What to See and Do

Three days is the sweet spot for Singapore. Enough to see the highlights without rushing. Here's how to maximize every hour.

Best Hotels

Singapore on a Budget: Hotels Under $50/Night

Singapore has a reputation for being expensive. But with the right neighborhoods and booking strategies, $50/night gets you a comfortable stay.

Pingsme.com RadarFREE

Get Telegram alerts when fares on this route move again. Free and easy to turn on.

Ready to plan Singapore?

Compare fares from Vietnam, explore where to stay, and let Pingsme.com suggest the next step for your Singapore trip.

Compare flight deals to Singapore