Detailed tips for optimizing expenses when traveling to Singapore for under 9 million VND

How to save expenses when traveling to Singapore for a perfect trip that is not too expensive? Fans of the lion island can refer to the article below to budget for a cheap but exciting trip to Singapore.

The lion island is one of the ideal destinations whenever international tourists mention traveling to Southeast Asia. Singapore - a unique convergence of cultures around the world that attracts travelers interested in exploring world cultures.

Moreover, the lion island is also famous as one of the most livable cities in the world with the cleanest and safest environment that makes everyone want to visit at least once in their lifetime. Besides, one thing that most tourists, especially those planning to travel to Singapore independently, find essential is saving expenses when traveling to Singapore.

1. Tips for saving expenses when traveling to Singapore before the trip

1.1 Plan and hunt for cheap air tickets 

Singapore has a quite special location, partly located on the Malaysian peninsula and offshore in the sea area… Therefore, it can be said that Singapore is quite close to Vietnam. In fact, the flight time from Tan Son Nhat Airport, Ho Chi Minh City to Changi Airport, Singapore is just over 2 hours.

Departing to Singapore (direct flights) from other international airports in Vietnam such as Noi Bai (Hanoi) will take a bit longer - about 4 hours, and the flight time from Da Nang Airport will take about 3 hours and 30 minutes. Therefore, the price of Singapore tickets will be cheaper compared to tickets to many other countries around the world. 

Travelers must plan to save expenses when traveling to Singapore. 

However, to save more expenses when traveling to Singapore, travelers should plan their trip to Singapore in advance, especially the departure and return times. After that, travelers should proceed to book tickets immediately to hunt for cheap air tickets. The best time to hunt for cheap air tickets to Singapore is about 3 to 4 months before departure. 

The trick is that travelers should watch for promotions on forums, ticket booking apps to save more expenses when traveling to Singapore. 

The timing of traveling to Singapore is also one of the factors that affect ticket prices and travel expenses to Singapore. If travelers travel to Singapore during the peak season (from December to March next year), they will face the situation of always high air ticket prices. Conversely, if travelers travel to Singapore during the off-peak season (July, August lunar calendar), air tickets will be cheaper. 

When booking tickets, travelers should also avoid holidays and weekends to hunt for cheaper tickets to save travel expenses to Singapore. Cheap tickets to Singapore will fall around 1.5 - 2 million VND for a round-trip ticket. 

1.2 Hunt for cheap hotel rooms to save on travel expenses to Singapore for the trip

Similar to booking air tickets, finding a reasonably priced accommodation will help travelers save a considerable amount for the total travel expenses to Singapore. Travelers can refer to the following tips to save as much as possible for accommodation:

1.2.1 Book early

Singapore is one of the famous destinations in Asia. Therefore, travelers should book hotel rooms about 1 to 2 months in advance. With this timeframe, travelers can still find cheap rooms from promotional programs. 

1.2.2 Pay attention to the timing of booking rooms

If travelers go on vacation and book rooms during the peak tourist season in Singapore, the risk of rooms being fully booked or prices increasing sharply is very high. Therefore, travelers should plan their trips and book rooms during the off-peak season to get good prices, thus saving travel expenses to Singapore. 

1.2.3 Choose a location 

The location is one of the factors that determine the price of accommodation when traveling to Singapore. If travelers come to Singapore with the intention of budget travel, they should research areas with cheap rooms to save travel expenses to Singapore. Typically, areas near the city center often have very high prices. Therefore, travelers should book areas further away but ensure they are close to MRT subway stations to save more. 

Areas with budget-friendly rooms in Singapore that travelers can refer to are:

• Chinatown: Also known as the Chinese district, travelers here have many choices from budget to luxury hotels and many nightlife areas. Additionally, this area has the convenient MRT Chinatown station for travelers' convenience. 

The 81 Hotel in Chinatown area. 

• Little India: The living area of the Indian community in Singapore. Little India mostly has budget hotels, with very few luxury hotels.  

• Clarke Quay: Many homestays here cost only half as much as regular hotels. This area is suitable for travelers planning to explore Clarke Quay at night. 

• Lavender: This area has many budget hotels, rooms, and is near the MRT subway station. 

• Civic District: The advantage of this area is that it has up to two MRT subway stations and many bus routes convenient for travelers. Additionally, this area has many unique architectural structures for travelers to admire.

• Bugis and Kampong Glam: This area is also known as the Arab district. This is the area with the cheapest hotels and accommodations in Singapore. The Arab district also has many budget eateries suitable for travelers who want to save travel expenses to Singapore. 

1.3 Take advantage of making a passport to save travel expenses to Singapore

A passport is a mandatory document if travelers want to board a plane to go abroad. Therefore, if travelers still do not have a passport, they should apply for one before their trip to Singapore. It is worth noting that it will take about 3-8 working days to receive a passport. 

A passport is an essential item when traveling to Singapore. 

Therefore, travelers should take advantage of the time to submit passport applications to receive the passport before the departure date. This may seem unrelated to saving travel expenses to Singapore, but if travelers do not get their passports in time, they will incur expenses for expedited passport services. 

Do I need a visa to go to Singapore? The answer is no, if you are traveling to the Lion City for less than 30 days, you do not need a visa. 

1.4 Exchange to Singapore dollars

Travelers should exchange Vietnamese money for Singapore dollars before traveling. To save travel expenses to Singapore and make the process quick and easy, travelers should exchange some cash at Hung Long shop (address: 86 Mac Thi Buoi, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City). Alternatively, travelers can exchange at a bank, but it will take time to wait. 

Additionally, travelers can keep the remaining amount in their MasterCard, Visa, or other international payment cards. In Singapore, there are many restaurants, shops, and services that accept card payments, so travelers do not need to carry too much cash with them, avoiding dangerous situations. 

2. Save travel expenses to Singapore during your trip

2.1 Enjoy cheap dining to save travel expenses to Singapore 

Singaporean cuisine is one of the special attractions for tourists. Thanks to its multicultural heritage from many countries around the world, Singapore boasts a unique culinary culture. However, to enjoy Singaporean cuisine while saving overall travel expenses to Singapore, tourists should choose inexpensive dining areas. 

Cheap dining areas in Singapore are often densely populated residential areas. Travelers should choose residential areas instead of famous restaurants to save travel expenses to Singapore. 

Some inexpensive dining areas that travelers can consider when visiting Singapore are: 

2.1.1 Chinatown

Chinatown is known as the residential area of ​​Singapore's Chinese origin. Therefore, in this area, travelers will easily find many eateries selling Singaporean specialties with a strong Chinese flavor. 

To enjoy cheap Singaporean cuisine in Chinatown, travelers can visit Smith Street and indulge in the famous street food of the Lion City. In addition, travelers can also enjoy many other Singaporean dishes at the Chinatown Complex Food Court. 

2.1.2 Makansutra Gluttons Bay

To get to this culinary center, travelers can go to 8 Raffe Avenue. This is a newly established dining area in Singapore. With only about 12 stalls, travelers can enjoy many Singaporean specialties here at a reasonable price. 

2.1.3 Katong District

As introduced above, residential areas in Singapore will always bring travelers specialty dishes at very affordable prices, and Katong District is one of them. Katong District is home to the Peranakan people in Singapore. Therefore, travelers here will enjoy countless delicious dishes typical of the Lion City at extremely cheap prices, suitable for saving on the cost of traveling to Singapore.

Travelers will save on the cost of traveling to Singapore if they choose to eat and check in at Katong District.

Not only that, but here travelers will also enjoy Singaporean dishes with Peranakan culture. These dishes often have origins and flavors blended from many different countries - countries whose people have migrated to Singapore to live from the earliest days of this country such as Malaysia, China, India, the Netherlands,..

2.1.4 Maxwell Food Centre

When it comes to cheap eats, travelers definitely can't miss Maxwell Food Centre. This place is known as a food paradise for Singaporeans and tourists alike. Travelers can enjoy countless delicious dishes of the Lion City at hundreds of food stalls.

The prices of the dishes here are quite cheap, suitable for travelers who want to save on the cost of traveling to Singapore. Each dish costs only around 3 - 4 Singapore dollars.

2.1.5 Zion Riverside Food Centre

At this food center, travelers can not only enjoy cheap eats but also enjoy the style while sitting at the outdoor dining area.

A dish that travelers definitely can't miss when visiting Zion Riverside is the chili crab - a Singaporean specialty. Travelers who want to enjoy the delicious seafood of the Lion City can indulge without worrying about the price, as they only have to spend from 5 to 7 Singapore dollars for a seafood dish here.

2.1.6 Andhra Curry District

If travelers want to enjoy Indian cuisine in Singapore, they can try the Andhra Curry District on the east side of Orchard Road. Here, travelers can enjoy all kinds of Singaporean dishes with Indian flavors such as fish head curry, Hyderabadi biryani, pulusu, ...

2.2 Fun activities and sightseeing to save costs when traveling to Singapore

2.2.1 Hunt for cheap tickets at entertainment spots. 

During the discount season, travelers can look out for discounted tickets at famous amusement parks to optimize the cost of traveling to Singapore. 

2.2.2 Choose affordable tourist spots in Singapore

In Singapore, besides places where travelers have to buy tickets, there are also places that can be visited for free or at very cheap prices. With this approach, travelers can save a lot on transportation costs in Singapore.

Some free attractions that travelers can consider for their trip: 

• Sentosa Island: This island is known as the entertainment paradise of Singapore as the entire area on the island is invested in building amusement parks or nature reserves. Choosing Sentosa Island as a destination, travelers only need to pay for the boat ticket from the city center to the island or the entrance fee at the amusement park and can visit the island for free. 

• Chinatown: This is a neighborhood of Singaporean Chinese. Here, travelers can visit the night market, the famous market with a lively atmosphere, and a space filled with lights from the typical Chinese lanterns. Travelers can explore, shop from stalls in the market, or enjoy Singaporean street food at dining areas in Chinatown. 

• Marina By Sands: Travelers can visit the unique, magnificent, and glittering building of Singapore on the Marina Bay waterfront. 

• Little India: Similar to Chinatown, travelers can stroll around Little India to learn about the cultural life of Indians in Singapore and enjoy typical Indian cuisine. 

Little India is a famous tourist destination that still saves the cost of traveling to Singapore. 

• Merlion Park: Whether traveling on a budget to Singapore or not, visiting Merlion Park and checking in with the Merlion statue - the symbol of Singapore is something travelers cannot miss when visiting the lion island. 

2.3 Shopping tips to save in Singapore. 

Singapore is not only a tourist paradise but also a shopping paradise in Southeast Asia. Therefore, travelers visiting the lion island should experience shopping here. Some shopping tips for travelers to save costs when traveling to Singapore are: 

2.3.1 Remember to claim tax refund at the airport when leaving Singapore

In Singapore, there is a tax refund procedure for travelers when shopping. Specifically, the prices of items here usually include a 7% tax. Travelers should keep the receipt and shop at stores with the Tax Free and Tax Refund logos. For receipts over 100 SGD, travelers will be refunded the tax amount at the airport when they check out and leave Singapore. 

2.3.2 Choose the right time to shop

The timing of shopping is one of the key factors in successful shopping spree while still saving costs when traveling to Singapore for travelers. 

Travelers can choose to shop from June to August every year to hunt for promotions. This is the biggest sale period in Singapore. Travelers can even hunt for items on sale up to 80% off from various brands. 

2.3.3 Choose the right shopping destinations

In the shopping paradise of Singapore, travelers can find many places to shop. From luxurious shopping centers to mid-range stores and budget stalls in markets. Therefore, if travelers want to save costs when traveling to Singapore, and not spend too much money on shopping, they can choose mid-range destinations instead of luxury shopping centers or brands on Orchard Road.

To save costs when traveling to Singapore, travelers should choose shopping destinations. 

2.4 How to travel to save costs when traveling to Singapore?

If travelers want to save costs when traveling to Singapore, they should choose the MRT subway in Singapore as the main means of transportation when traveling to the country. However, because the fare is much cheaper than traveling by taxi, if traveling by taxi, travelers just need to sit in the car and let the driver take them to their destination, while they have to actively navigate, get off at the station when taking the MRT subway. 

2.5 Other considerations to save costs when traveling to Singapore

• Regarding drinks: beverages in Singapore usually cost from 1 to 3 SGD per bottle or glass of water. However, to save as much as possible, travelers can bring empty bottles to fill up at public taps. Water from taps has been treated and is safe for consumption. 

• About wifi and connectivity: travelers can download the Wireless@SGx app, enter their foreign phone number to access free wifi at broadcasting points. 

• Buying a 4G sim: Travelers can buy a sim card at convenience stores at Changi Airport. Most 4G sims here have a capacity of 100Gb with prices ranging from 12 to 15 SGD.

Using the MRT card in Singapore is a way to save costs when traveling to Singapore. 

• Using the MRT card: Travelers can buy an Ez-link card to use on all MRT lines in Singapore. With 1 Ez-link card priced at 12 SGD, travelers can use about 7 SGD for MRT travel. If the card runs out of money, travelers can top up. If travelers go on a 4 days 3 nights tour in Singapore it is advisable to top up with 10 - 20 SGD. 

3. Choose budget tours to Singapore by Mytour

Travelers can choose tours to Singapore from Ho Chi Minh City including round-trip airfare and 3-star hotels for 8,800,000 VND to save costs for a 3-day 2-night trip to Singapore.

Above are the details of the tips that travelers can apply to optimize costs for traveling to Singapore. The desired national tourism of many travel enthusiasts. That perfect trip will not be far away when travelers choose to travel economically. Alternatively, travelers can also choose cheap tours to Singapore by Mytour Mytour to experience the perfect lion island tour at the most perfect cost. 

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