Singapore and Malaysia: A Family Adventure
Our recent self-planned trip to Singapore and Malaysia, spanning six days and five nights, was an absolute delight! Traveling with three adults and a spirited 7-year-old, we prioritized comfort and seamless travel.
Destination: Singapore & Malaysia
Getting There
We flew from Ho Chi Minh City to Singapore with Vietjet (11:20 AM - 2:20 PM) and returned from Kuala Lumpur to Ho Chi Minh City via Asia Air (2:10 PM - 3:40 PM). Round-trip tickets cost approximately 3.6 million VND per person.
Accommodation
- Singapore (2 nights): Furama City Centre. The room was spacious, clean, and conveniently located across from an MRT station, bus stop, and Chinatown.
- Malacca, Malaysia (1 night): Estadia Hotel. We booked a remarkably affordable apartment with two separate bedrooms and a living room – incredibly clean and spacious.
- Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (2 nights): Grand Millennium Kuala Lumpur. The hotel offered large, spotless rooms, modern amenities, and attentive staff.
Overall, we were thrilled with our hotel choices throughout the trip!
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Singapore
Upon arriving at Changi Airport, immigration was swift and efficient.
- We took some memorable photos at Jewel Changi Airport (Terminal 1).
- For lunch, we visited Gochiso Shokudo, a restaurant specializing in chicken dishes. The portions were generous and delicious. We ordered four servings, which proved to be too much, and ended up taking some home. Note the prices are a bit steep.
- We then hopped on the MRT from the airport directly to our hotel.
- In the evening, we explored Marina Bay and dined at Keng Eng Kee Seafood, savoring local flavors.
Day 2: Sentosa and VivoCity
- After enjoying breakfast at the hotel, we took the MRT to Sentosa.
- We explored Universal Studios Singapore and the Chocolate Shop.
- Around noon, we took the MRT to VivoCity for lunch at the Chinese Food Street on the top floor. After lunch, we enjoyed a relaxing afternoon at the hotel.
- We visited the S.E.A Aquarium in the late afternoon, followed by the mesmerizing Garden by the Bay light show in the evening.
- Dinner was at HADYA, an Indian restaurant in Chinatown. We also tried Mixue bubble tea.
Day 3: Chinatown & Entering Malaysia
- After breakfast, we explored the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum.
- We headed to Chinatown to shop for souvenirs and gifts, focusing primarily on food items. Lunch was at a hot pot restaurant near the MRT station.
- We arranged for a private car transfer to Malacca, Malaysia. The cost was similar to taking the bus via Easybook, but the comfort and convenience were worth it, especially with a child.
- After checking into our hotel, we headed to the town square in the evening to watch a musical performance. We took a river cruise, rented e-bikes to explore Malacca, enjoyed smoothies and pastries at Garba by the river, and had a fantastic dinner at a Chinese restaurant near Jonker Street.
Day 4: Malacca to Kuala Lumpur
- We started the day with breakfast at the hotel.
- We headed to Jonker Street to buy souvenirs. We enjoyed coffee at a riverside cafe before checking out of the hotel at noon.
- We traveled from Melaka Sentral bus station to Kuala Lumpur by bus. The ticket cost about 80,000 VND per person. The bus journey lasted 2 hours.
- After checking into our Kuala Lumpur hotel, we visited the Jalan Alor night market for dinner at Tesaka Seafood Restaurant. The seafood dishes, particularly the fish and crab with special sauce, were delicious and reasonably priced. We also enjoyed some mango juice.
Day 5: Batu Caves, Thean Hou Temple, Independence Square & Petronas Towers
- After breakfast at the hotel, we visited Batu Caves.
- We spent the afternoon at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, exploring the Tokyo Street area on the top floor.
- In the late afternoon, we visited Thean Hou Temple, Independence Square, and the King's Palace.
- We had dinner in Chinatown, followed by bubble tea. We finished the evening at the Petronas Twin Towers.
Day 6: Kwai Chai Hong & Departure
- Enjoyed breakfast at the hotel.
- Explored Kwai Chai Hong (a hidden laneway in Chinatown) and had bubble tea.
- Headed to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) for our flight back to Ho Chi Minh City.
Useful Notes
In Singapore, we primarily used the MRT for transportation. Instead of purchasing an EZ-Link card, we used my Visa debit card. The total cost for transportation in Singapore was about 180,000 VND per person for 2.5 days. Children under 7 ride the MRT for free.
In Malaysia, we relied on Grab for transportation. The prices were quite reasonable, but be sure to book rides in advance, especially during peak hours, when prices can surge.
Both countries widely accept card payments, so we predominantly used our cards. We only spent about $100 out of the $400 Singapore dollars we brought, and about 800 out of 1000 Malaysian Ringgit we exchanged. Cash was mainly used for Grab rides.
Total Costs
The total cost for our group of four was 59.5 million VND, broken down as follows:
- Round-trip airfare for 4 people (including 40kg of checked baggage): 14.4 million VND
- Accommodation for 5 nights (Singapore: 10 million VND for 2 nights, Malacca: 1.8 million VND for 1 night, Kuala Lumpur: 3.6 million VND for 2 nights): 15.4 million VND
- Entrance tickets, food, and transportation: 29.7 million VND
This translates to approximately 14.8 million VND per person for the entire trip, enjoying comfortable accommodations, flexible schedules, and the luxury of afternoon naps!
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