Malay Village

Frommer's Review

In 1985, Malay Village opened in Geylang as a theme village to showcase Malay culture. It's always been a sort of tatty display, but since the opening of the Malay Heritage Centre in Kampong Gelam 2 years ago, it's grown even more obscure and has almost completely dropped off the Singapore Tourism Board's radar. There's a small cultural display and lots of shops that cater to the local Malay community in Geylang, a neighborhood with a strong Malay heritage. While not nearly as shiny as the new center, there's something more authentic about Malay Village, probably because it's in the heart of a residential district.

I've also had some interesting experiences here -- Malay Village still hosts the Kuda Kepang, a fascinating traditional Malay dance, on Saturday nights at 8pm, free of charge. It's a long performance but worth the wait because at the end the dancers are put in a trance and walk on glass, eat glass, and rip coconuts to shreds with their teeth. Arrive early because the place gets packed -- but with locals, not tourists.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

Back to Top