My Kuala Lumpur Adventure: A 2025 Travelogue
Navigating Entry: The Malaysia Digital Arrival Card
First things first, if you're planning a trip, remember the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card. It's essential to complete this online (and free!) application via the official government website (imigresen-online.imi.gov.my) within three days of your arrival. There are other sites out there, but be careful; some are scams, and others charge unnecessary fees.
KL: A Familiar Vibe
Kuala Lumpur, or KL as it's often called, felt similar to Hanoi or Saigon. The city center is buzzing with activity, while the outskirts have older houses and tiled roofs. It has a familiar big-city vibe.
Lush Landscapes and Elusive Wildlife
Greenery is everywhere! Forests abound, and while I'd heard about the monkey population, I didn't spot a single one. Crows, however, were as common as in Singapore.
Bus from Singapore: A Scenic Route
I took a bus from Singapore to Malaysia. I chose Golden Coach, which cost around 700k VND. The journey, departing at 8 AM, took three to four hours to reach the final destination. Even with an online ticket, I still needed to check in and get a paper ticket. The route from Singapore to KL was almost entirely through forests. Border crossing procedures were quick. The bus made a few stops along the way for rest breaks.
KL Traffic: Orderly Congestion
The roads are a bit complex and often crowded, with some traffic jams. However, it felt more organized than traffic in Vietnam.
Public Transportation: Buses and Trains
KL has both buses and trains (the map is useful). There are two types of trains: subways and elevated trains (like in Hanoi). Unlike Singapore, there's no travel card. You buy a token for each trip at a machine. Have small change of 1, 2, or 5 RM (Malaysian Ringgit) coins ready to load into the machine. If you don't have coins, you can exchange larger bills at the station counter. You can enter and exit the station using either a token or a bank card. The train stations are similar to those in Vietnam, not as modern or cool as in Singapore.
Scooters: KL's Unique Urban Mobility
While Vietnam has public bicycles, KL has scooters, which are quite interesting to see.
The Unseen Side: Homelessness and Poverty
Unfortunately, I did see some homeless people and beggars, including child laborers asking for money (even near the Petronas Twin Towers). Near where I stayed, an elderly man slept on the sidewalk. People gave him food, which he would eat. He seemed to sleep very soundly. One early morning, I gave him a package of bread, but he was fast asleep and didn't notice.
Operating Hours and KL Sentral
KL shares the same time zone as Singapore. Shops and malls are open from 10 AM to 10 PM. KL Sentral is the city's largest station, a hub for many train lines, and its shops open early, catering to travelers heading to the airport.
Food Costs: Not Exactly Cheap
Food isn't super cheap. Expect to pay around 70k to 100k VND for a regular meal in a mall.
The Damascus Bread Hype
I tried the Damascus bread that everyone says is the best in the city. At 120k VND per piece, it felt like a waste of money. A 20k VND bánh mì (Vietnamese sandwich) at home is better. I saw long lines at the Bukit Bintang location and decided to try it. Traveling always makes me appreciate Vietnamese bánh mì even more; it's truly the best in the world. When I was in Singapore, a British guy raved about a bánh mì he had in Vietnam.
Petronas Twin Towers: A Tourist Hotspot
The Petronas Twin Towers are beautiful and crowded, filled with tourists. I bought a souvenir model of the towers at one shop for 20 RM. Later, I saw the same model for 18 RM at Batu Caves, and even cheaper inside the cave for 15 RM! :))
Saloma Link Bridge: Night Lights and a Cemetery
Near the Petronas Twin Towers is the Saloma Link Bridge. It's beautifully lit up at night with many colorful lights, and lots of people were taking pictures. However, the path to get there passes by a Muslim cemetery.
Aquaria KLCC: Underwater World
Aquaria KLCC, located inside the Convention Center, costs 500k VND. Whether you buy tickets online or offline, you still have to wait in line. Since I missed out on the aquarium in Singapore, I decided to check it out. It wasn't particularly special, and the sharks weren't as big as I expected (maybe the glass made them look smaller). I expected an aquarium to be all fish, but there were also insects (which felt out of place).
Merdeka 118: The Tallest Building
Merdeka 118 is the tallest building in Malaysia. It was opposite where I was staying, but I didn't have time to visit it. I was staying near Berjaya Times Square, across from Lalaport, a mall as big as Lotte Mall West Lake. It was convenient for shopping.
Anime Culture: A Strong Presence
They're really into anime here. There are several shops full of anime merchandise, and the advertisements have an anime style.
Football Fields: Seemingly Rare
They don't seem to be huge football fans here. I didn't see any seven-a-side fields. I only saw two five-a-side fields at Bukit Jalil, the national stadium, which looked great.
People of KL: A Melting Pot
There are many people of Indian descent. Most others appeared to be Chinese. I can't distinguish between Malay and Chinese people. There are also many tourists on the streets. When I asked for directions, everyone said they were tourists and didn't know the way. I learned that Muslim women always wear headscarves, whether they are children or elderly.
Batu Caves: Pigeons and Monkeys
Batu Caves has a lot of pigeons, probably more than people! There are monkeys at the entrance, but they are small. A train runs from KL Sentral to the caves. You can buy tickets at the counter or swipe your card. On the way there, I accidentally swiped my card and lost 200k VND. Buying a ticket is much cheaper. Entry to the cave is free.
Getting to the Airport: Train or Bus
You can get to the airport by train or bus. There are two train lines, KL Express and KL Transit, with similar ticket prices of around 300k VND. KL Express is the fastest, taking about 30 minutes from KL Sentral. KL Transit takes a bit longer because it stops along the way. If you're not in a hurry, the bus is cheaper, costing around 70k VND and taking about 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Durian and Pork: Local Flavors
Durian is a specialty here, but they're small compared to those in Vietnam, so I didn't try any. I didn't see any restaurants selling pork.
Language: Familiar Sounds
Many Malay words sound similar to English. Speaking it feels similar to Vietnamese.
Chocolate Shopping: A Must-Do
If you travel to Malaysia, you absolutely must buy chocolate as a souvenir because it's plentiful and cheaper than in Vietnam. A package of Cadbury chocolate costs 70k VND at the airport, but it sells for 85k VND on Shopee in Vietnam. If you buy it at a mall, it's even cheaper, around 50k VND. The chocolate is made in Malaysia.
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