Today marks the annual Dragon boat festival. Looking back at the pre-pandemic time, people gather to see colorful boats, hear the thumping of drums, and see excited crowds cheering their team favorites in the friendly Dragon boat race.

Now that social distancing is still in force, you may need to check the activity before you leave your house to make sure that these Singapore activities are still running. Despite the restriction, the traditions on how people celebrate the festival will never fade.

Here are the top five traditions that Chinese people observe during the Dragon boat festival

ROW ROW ROW YOUR BOAT

A dragon boat festival will never be the same without the iconic friendly competition dragon boat race. This tradition is to commemorate the life of Qu Yuan, a patriotic poet, and exiled official in ancient China. Qu Yuan drowned himself in the river as an act of protest. In order to save him, locals rushed in boats to save him thus, the dragon race was born.

Don’t forget the Zong-zi (粽子）

Zong Zi is a sticky rice dumpling stuffed with different fillings wrapped in bamboo leaves. It is commonly eaten during the Dragon boat festival. It was believed that when locals tried to save Qu Yuan, they throw the rice dumplings wrapped in bamboo leaves into the river so the fish would eat the grains instead of Yuan's body.

Paper shapes predator decorations

It is believed that cutting out the shapes of five poisonous creatures to ward off evil spirits causes disease. It is sometimes seen sticking stick on windows, doors, and walls.

Wear perfume Pouches

During Dragon Boat Festival perfume pouches are hung around kids' necks. as it is believed to protect them from evil.

Charms all the way

During the Dragon boat festival, people wear lucky bracelets on their necks, feet, or wrists which symbolizes longevity,

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Choosing the right hotel when you travel is one of the most important tasks. Location, price, reviews, easy access to transportation, nearby malls, and other tourist attractions are important things to consider when looking for a hotel.

Hello! Singapore Tours Team has listed different districts in Singapore to help you decide on which locations are most suitable for your Singapore tour.

QUAYS / CIVIC DISTRICT - Located at the very core of Singapore and can take any bus or any MRT anywhere in Singapore!

CHINATOWN - A perfect blend for the old and the new, Chinatown is one of the most touristy districts.

LITTLE INDIA - The 24-hour shopping mall Mustafa Centre makes little India a great place for shopping.

KAMPONG GLAM - With the many choices of hotels in Bugis and Kampong Glam, you get the best of both worlds.

MARINA BAY - It has an excellent subway connection for hopping around town.

We put together a list of hotels in each district to help you decide on where to stay on your next Singapore trip.

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Feeling stuck and nowhere to go? Your Hello! Singapore Tours has the perfect getaway for you and your family.

There are plenty of activities that you can do in Singapore but nothing beats spending the night out from the hustle and bustle of city life and enjoy a relaxing Singapore Sailing with your loved one.

In this overnight sail, you will sail and explore towards Southern Island where you will pass by 2 important landmarks in Singapore - Sister’s island and St. Johns island. Enjoy the relaxing ocean breeze sailing towards the northeast of Singapore in Palau Ubin and enjoy a sumptuous sunset dinner on board.

It will not be a perfect weekend getaway if you have not explored the hidden gem on the northern coast of Singapore called Skeletar Island and cruise around the island of Pulau Ubin before heading back to ONE 15 Marina Club.

Spend and evening on board with your Hello! Singapore Sailing Team

Contact your Hello! Singapore Tours team and book your overnight Charter with us!

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Come and join Hello! Singapore Tours Grandfathers Story Residents tour and have the chance to eat at the famous fish soup in Amoy Street. Swee Kee Eating House has been in the business for 80 years and has been the pioneer fish head soup eatery.

The brand has been in the business for years and was the silent witness from the World War, Economic Depression, and SARS. Sadly, the COVID-19 has taken a big blow to the business resulting in its closure announcement. From their honest Facebook post, they have shared the heartbreaking news that the restaurant will be serving its last bowl until May 30th of 2021.

If only SWEE KEE can talk, it will surely give you very interesting stories about the eatery's journey. But worry not! You still have time to try their famous fish soup. The restaurant may not be able to talk, but your Hello! Singapore Tour Guide will help you relive the past as they tell you interesting stories on how the restaurant played a role in our forefathers’ early journey to Singapore.

Tours run 6 days per week from Tuesday to Sunday. Start time is any time between 11 am and 1:30 pm for daytime tours and between 5 pm and 7 pm for evening tours. BOOK NOW!

With the sudden change of social distancing guidelines, just days before their tour, a new announcement of a stricter social gathering was imposed limiting a maximum of 2 pax per subgroup for tours. Who says that you cannot enjoy a day out in Singapore? This group proved it otherwise! and was able to enjoy their WHEN SINGAPORE SURRENDERED RESIDENTS TOUR with the close guidance of your Hello! Singapore Tour Guide Richard.

Enjoy your Singapore Rediscover Voucher with Hello! Singapore Tours.

Making use of their Singapore Rediscover Voucher when they booked the tour, Hello! Singapore guests Kelvin, Betsy, Chiew Yian, David, Dorcas, Angela, Raff, Simon, and Catherine were able to explore and learned about the darkest chapter in Singapores’ history. Just when you think you know history, think again! as this tour will give you interesting facts and will help you travel back in time by visiting sites that are all connected to WWII.

On this tour, this happy group visited Waterfront Woodland where the bombing of the Causeway took place, Kranji beach battle site. the Japanese landing site at Lim Chu Kong Jetty, and making the final stop at the Former Ford Factory where the British Forces surrendered to Lieutenant-General Yamashita Tomoyuki. It’s definitely a day to remember.

Just like Kelvin and friends, you can still use your Singapore Rediscover Voucher on Hello! Singapore Residents tour. You can choose from Jalan Jalan Cari Makan for foodie lovers, Our Grandfathers Story which is an exploration of Chinatown and the early life of Singapore’s forefather, and of course, When Singapore Surrendered for WWII buffs out there!

Singapore Rediscover Voucher can still be used until December of 2021. What are you waiting for, Book Now!

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The most awaited travel bubble between Singapore and Hong Kong will finally commence as scheduled on May 26. In case you missed it, the travel bubble is open to anyone currently living in Singapore or Hong Kong, regardless of nationality. However, as an added safety precaution, only those who are fully vaccinated Hong Kong residents are allowed by the Hong Kong government to make the trip. The good news is, this travel bubble will allow both citizens from each city to land quarantine FREE!

You might already be wondering, what else can you do in our Little Red Dot? Aside from the must-visit attractions, Singapore offers the best sunset view, places to explore, and activities to do on the coasts of Singapore. Hello! Singapore Private Sailing charter is a great way to have a break from the busy city life and have fun swimming, kayaking, paddle-boarding, sun tanning, and a lot more with your family or friends.

Family enjoying their Sailing Charter (Before Covid)

This boat trips Singapore charter, is a 45-min tour around the city’s Southern Island using our elegant and practical design yacht with a spacious front desk where you can admire breathtaking Singapore's city skyline. It is a perfect summer getaway for those who want to have a quick dip on the water or just enjoy the summer breeze while having a cold beer on one hand!

Swim, Kayak, get that summer tan line with Hello! Singapore Private Sailing Charters.

This activity will surely make your stay in Singapore this 2021 more memorable. Since we are traveling under the new normal, of course, we encourage everyone to observe social distancing, wear your mask on, and always have that handy dandy hand sanitizer in your travel bag.

Stay updated with the current happenings with your Hello! Singapore Tours Team by following and liking our Facebook and Instagram page.

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Mother’s day is just around the corner. That one special day dedicated to celebrating the life and hard work of all Mothers out there. They say that “A mother is your first friend, your best friend, your forever friend.” So it is about right to spoil our Mother to this very special day.

Hello! Singapore Tours team has rounded up gift ideas for your mom to make their special day even more special!

SINGAPORE SCARVES BY BINARY STYLE

Primarily inspired by Singapore’s culture, heritage, urban life, and nature, Binary Style uses its collection of over 60 beautiful scarves as a medium to illustrate and narrate Singapore’s story–be it from the past or present. These scarves are made of either cotton, silk, cotton silk, or chiffon, making them classic and comfortable pieces to wear and own.

PATTERN DESIGNS BY ONLEWO

From cushion covers, handbags, and even facemasks, Pattern by Onlewo has various designs inspired by Singaporean roots that tell you a story. The brand seeks to connect people and memories, enliven conversations and ignite new passions. A perfect gift for your mom who would like to show their love of Singapore heritage.

SURPRISE GIFT DELIVERY

Most of you are probably far from your family, especially this time of the year when the world is all dealing with the pandemic. You can still show your love and greet them on this very special day by surprising them with a monthly gift delivered to their doorstep. Hello! Singapore Tours Team has a very special Holiday By Post-Program just for you. All you need to do is subscribe, and we got it all covered! Because why not celebrate just one day when every day should be a Mother’s day!

SUNSET CRUISE

While material gifts are so much appreciated, nothing beats a quick getaway out at sea. Treat your mom to a relaxing sunset cruise around the Southern Islands of Singapore and enjoy the AWE-mazing Sunset view while enjoying light snacks and drinks on board. This will surely make their Mother’s day a memorable one!

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Exciting news to everyone who misses traveling! The long wait is finally over! May 26, 2021 is a very special date for Singapore and Hong Kong people where they will be allowed to travel quarantine-free between the cities. Yes, you heard it right! A sign of positive development from both financial hubs in doing their best in controlling the spread of the virus and opening its borders again.

Now that you can freely travel again under our new normal, are you ready for your Singapore Itinerary? There are a lot of places to explore in the city and we understand that you might have not visited some of them or haven’t had enough time exploring the city.

Enjoy the travel bubble with Hello! Singapore Tours Team

 To help you plan on what to include in your itinerary, we have put together an overview of the must-see places in Singapore which you can also include when you book Hello! Singapore Tours Private customised tour.

Planning on visiting Hong Kong too? Here is a very helpful overview of the must-see places in Hong Kong with the Hello! Singapore Tours Team

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Haven’t made up your mind yet on where to redeem your Singapore Rediscover voucher? Hello! Singapore Tours Team is just here for you and excited to show you a different perspective of our beloved Singapore!

We know the struggle of choosing activities from over 200 eligible merchants for the Singapo Rediscover Vouchers scheme. To help you decide on why you should redeem your vouchers with us, here are the top 3 tours which you can choose to book and meet our very friendly and enthusiastic Hello! Singapore tour guides.

Redeem your Singapore Rediscover voucher with Hello! Singapore Tours Team!

Singapore Residents Tour: OUR GRANDFATHERS STORY

When you think you are already very familiar with Chinatown, better think again! OUR GRANDFATHERS STORY residents tour will take you on a journey on the life of our forefathers in Singapore and lets you travel back in time to learn how Singapore customs and culture have started. Making this tour more exciting, you will visit an award-winning family-owned Cantonese fish soup restaurant and experience first hand a traditional tea tasting ceremony to the very same tea house where Queen Elizabeth II was served.

Singapore Residents Tour: JALAN JALAN CARI MAKAN

Already have an idea of what the tour is all about? If you say food, you are absolutely correct! This is not your ordinary food tour. Your Hello! Singapore tour guides will take you on an in-depth exploration of Singapore’s food culture and learn about the history of food in Modern Singapore. Eat mouthwatering local dishes from Kaya toast, curry puffs, Hokkien Mee, and many many more and discover the histories and stories behind the foods that we eat, as well as the stories of the restaurants that you eat them in. Now, who is hungry?

Singapore Residents Tour: WHEN SINGAPORE SURRENDERED

If you love history and traveling comfortably using a private car, this is the perfect tour for you! When Singapore Surrendered is a specially designed tour to tell you stories of both well-known and relatively unknown people whose lives were intrinsically connected to the events surrounding the surrender to the Japanese forces. Together with your Hello! Singapore WWII expert guide, you will visit historical locations that will help you relive how life was during the war and will use maps and old photographs to help you to visualize the scenes and stories of this dark time.

These Residents Tours are specially designed for all Singaporean Residents to give you an in-depth exploration of the little red dot. Hello! Singapore Tours supports local tourism so we built in more local businesses in order to increase the amount of support going into the local community.

Singapore Rediscover Voucher can be redeemed until June 30, 2021. You still have time! BOOK NOW!

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Moving to a different country and starting from scratch is intimidating. There is so much to figure out; where to stay, how to adapt to a new culture, and the language barrier. You have probably have made countless searches on Google to gather some basic information about the city.

To make your life easier once you arrive in Lion city, we have done the hard work for you and listed all of the essential apps and phone numbers that you will need to navigate your new life.

Leisure

Klook - For travel activities and tickets. Available on iOS and Android.

Meetup - For finding and building local communities. Available on iOS and Android.

Food and Drinks

OpenRice - For reservations and discounts. Available on iOS and Android.

Food Panda - For Home delivery. Available on iOS and Android.

Deliveroo - For Home delivery. Available on iOS and Android.

Burrple - A guide to the best eats in Singapore. Available in iOS and Android.

Transportation

Explore Singapore MRT Map - To help you plan your trip and helpful not get lost in the city. Available on iOS and Android.

Bus@SG - This can be used to know the estimated bus arrival time, updates on bus services, and the latest route information to help with journey planning. Available on iOS and Android.

Citymapper - A public transit app and mapping service which displays transport options, usually with live timing, between any two locations in the city. Available on iOS and Android.

Grab - Its services include ride-hailing, food delivery, package delivery, couriers, freight transportation. Available on iOS and Android.

Employment

FastJobsS - An mobile app with various open listings for jobs in Singapore.

JobsDB - Another job search app providing a wide range of work opportunities and vacancies.

Jobstreet - Jobs on offer from over 230,000 employers in Singapore and the region.

Household Needs

Cleaners:

House Keeping by Butler - A one-stop property services company for homes and businesses. Tel. no. +65 8809 0777

Best Housekeeper - Your guide in getting the right help you need in Singapore.

Handymen:

LS Handyman Service - Professional Handyman Services in Singapore Tel No. 68544987.

Handy Man King - High-Quality Handyman Services. Tel. No +65 8730 6882 or email handiman.king.sg@gmail.com.

Finance

PayNow - A convenient way to go cashless for paying bills or transferring funds on your phone.

Apple Pay - You can make contactless, secure purchases in stores, in apps, and on the web. Available on iOS

DBS PayLah! - An app by one of the biggest banks in Singapore that functions as a mobile wallet where you can transfer funds to others via mobile numbers.

Other Essential Apps

MyENV - Developed by National Environmental Agency, this app gives you weather information and also tells you the temperature and air quality as well. Available on iOS and Android.

Weather@SG - To get the latest weather forecast. Available on iOS and Android.

iChangi - Up-to-date flight arrival and departure info in Singapore. Available on iOS and Android

Singapore Checkpoint Traffic - Great if you live over the border, this app shows the traffic situation at the links between Singapore and Malaysia.

Parking. sg - Pay for parking using your mobile devices at all coupon parking car parks.

SG Instant Traffic News - A fast news app with traffic info on accidents and jams that might affect your drive.

Socials

Most of the Facebook groups listed are closed groups so you will need to send a request to join but worry not as they get approved ALL the time!

All about Singapore Expats - For all people living in Hong Kong. From finding friends to selling things you don’t need. This is the FB group for you.

Buy and Sell Singapore - Here is a free page for all to post all products that people are selling. The group has currently 50k members.

Singapore CEO & Business Owners & Founders & Entrepreneurs - Here you can see different services from business operators in Singapore. The group has currently 7.2K members.

Local News & Online Magazines

Straits Time Singapore- A Singapore-based English-language newspaper.

Chinese News Asia - Get the latest headlines about Singapore.

Sassy Mamma Singapore- Get the latest news of what’s hot in the city.

Expat Living in Singapore - Expats directory for the hottest buzz in the city.

Timeout SG - Your neighborhood guide on the latest events, news around Singapore.

The Finder - Get an insider’s guide to living in Singapore.

Honeycombers Singapore - A digital lifestyle platform and a video content and events production house.

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