As the local travel experience becomes a trend in Vietnam, more and more tourists are eager to explore and immerse themselves in local culture. It would be a big mistake to come to Singapore without learning about Peranakan culture. Below are some suggestions for tourists to fully explore and experience this culture, enriching their itinerary to visit the island nation.
Explore The Intan Private Museum
Located in the Katong – Joo Chiat neighbourhood, The Intan private museum takes visitors back to the golden age of Peranakan culture in the early 20th century. Although the area is just over 100 m2but the museum owns more than 5,000 artifacts that Alvin Yapp spent more than 30 years collecting. The Intan in Malay means “pink diamond”, symbolizing his lifelong passion for this heritage culture.
Inside The Intan Private Museum
Here, visitors can admire unique antiques such as betel nut spittoons, tobacco pipes, beaded shoes, embroidered fabrics, etc. On this occasion, visitors can also visit the exhibition. The BARO x The Intan: Peranakan Weddingcombining traditional Peranakan heritage with modern fashion language.
According to the disclosure, The BARO x The Intan: Peranakan Wedding inspired by the lavish weddings of the Peranakan people. This is the brainchild of designer La Quoc Bao, an artist who made a splash in Vietnam with his Annam Heritage sneaker collection inspired by the art and architecture of the Hue royal court.
Admire the beauty of Peranakan heritage in cultural neighborhoods
In Katong – Joo Chiat, visitors can easily encounter architectural works bearing the colors of an old golden age. Not only heavily influenced by housing in Southern China, the ancient works in these cultural neighborhoods also represent a unique blend of Asian and European cultures.
Colorful architecture in Singapore
Typical representatives of this architectural style are the heritage shophouses (commercial townhouses) in the Katong – Joo Chiat area, also known as the Peranakan cultural center of Singapore. The facades of the shophouses here always attract the eyes of passersby with bright colors such as fluorescent pink, orange, electronic blue…
Built in the 1840s, these buildings are two or three stories, with shops located on the ground floor and living spaces on the upper floors. Although the exterior of these buildings looks quite narrow, the interior is quite spacious and impressively decorated. Today, most of these heritage buildings have been repaired and restored to become trendy cafes, boutique hotels, museums, shops, etc.
Enjoy Peranakan cuisine at Rumah Bebe
Rumah Bebe is a “miniature paradise” for those who want to learn about Peranakan culture. Besides sightseeing and shopping for porcelain, fabrics, and traditional Peranakan costumes, visitors can have lunch, participate in beading and baking workshops, or visit a miniature museum.
Shopping and dining are fun experiences in Singapore.
The culinary experience at Rumah Bebe is the “shining star”, loved by tourists and locals alike. In addition to the fixed menu of traditional Peranakan dishes, Rumah Bebe always serves daily specials.
Show off your cooking skills with Grandmothers’ Recipes workshop
If you’re fascinated by Singapore’s local cuisine and want to try your hand at cooking at home, you can learn the secrets at the Grandmothers’ Recipes cooking workshop hosted by Rosaline Soon. Author of three acclaimed cookbooks on Peranakan cuisine, Rosaline Soon’s recipes have been renowned since she first started running a local pub in the 1990s.
Visitors can learn to cook and listen to stories about Mrs. Rosaline’s life.
Not only do visitors learn the family’s cooking secrets, they also get to listen to interesting stories about daily life in Singapore from Mrs. Rosaline. Classes are currently held regularly every month, or visitors can register in private groups of 4-5 people.
Refreshing the experience of staying at heritage hotels
For those looking for a stay experience that blends traditional values and modernity at an affordable price, CUBE Boutique Capsule Hotel @ Kampong Glam will be an ideal choice.
Choosing a hotel in Singapore is also a way for tourists to refresh their experience.
For those looking for a more luxurious stay, Hotel Indigo in Katong – Joo Chiat with its Peranakan-inspired design will meet your needs. Guests can enjoy the infinity pool and relax on the sun beds on the rooftop with panoramic views of the heritage district. Another big plus of Hotel Indigo is its prime location, close to famous restaurants, bars, cafes…
