Woman seen sleeping at Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park for past 2 months, park-goers raise concerns: Shin Min

A woman has reportedly been sleeping at a park in Singapore for the past two months and asking members of the public for money.

Reportedly sleeps at a pavilion in the park

According to Shin Min Daily News, it received a tip-off from a reader, surnamed Wang (transliteration), who said a woman had been spotted sleeping at a pavilion at Bishan-Ang Mo Kio park since December 2025.

Wang said the woman would place a mattress on the stone bench at the pavilion and sleep there.

While she initially thought the arrangement was temporary, Wang said she noticed the woman later approaching passers-by to ask for money.

According to Wang, the woman claimed to be from Vietnam and said she did not have enough money for food, asking passers-by for a few dollars each time.

She added that many elderly park-goers would take pity on the woman and give her small amounts of cash.

However, what angered Wang was that the woman had allegedly approached her husband for money and asked him if he wanted to go out with her.

"Parks are meant for people to exercise and take walks. Now, someone is living here and asking people for money," she said, adding that she felt it was "not a very pleasant sight".

Claims to be in the midst of finding a job

When Shin Min reporters visited the park on the afternoon of Feb. 13, the woman was not around at the time.

However, they did find a number of personal items behind a public restroom, such as toiletries, towels, slippers, plastic basins, a mattress, and a suitcase.

A resident told Shin Min that the woman is usually seen at the park in the morning and at night, adding that she sometimes occupies the public toilet for extended periods, preventing others from using it.

During a subsequent visit at around 9pm on the same day, Shin Min reporters found the woman asleep in a pavilion.

The woman, surnamed Zhuang (transliteration), appeared to be in her forties and spoke Mandarin.

She confessed that she had been sleeping in the park for the past two months, leaving during the day and returning only at night.

She also admitted to asking passers-by for money, saying she was unemployed and had no choice but to beg in order to eat.

"I’m trying to find a job, but I probably won’t be able to find one till after Chinese New Year," she said.

Zhuang added that she has been in Singapore for several years and previously worked as an office cleaner.

She said her parents live in Vietnam, and that she sends the money she earns back to them.

When asked if she had overstayed her visa, she repeatedly denied doing so, claiming that the authorities would arrange accommodation for her at a later date.

She declined to elaborate on her family situation and said she did not require assistance.

"I'm resting well in the park," she said. "There is a public toilet not far from the pavilion, which is very convenient."

Police reportedly visited the park four times

A park security guard, surnamed Zhong (transliteration), told Shin Min he had seen Zhuang in the area for a few months and had given her S$4 previously after she told him she had no money for food.

He added that he knew park-goers were unhappy with the woman and that the police had visited the park on four occasions in relation to the matter.

Zhong also said he did not know anything about the woman's background, adding that she gave different accounts to different people.

Some were told she had been forced out by her employer, while others heard that she had quarrelled with her husband.

Zhong added that he would occasionally see a man visit her at night and believed he might be her boyfriend.

Zhuang confirmed that the police had spoken to her, but claimed she was not asked to leave the park.

"As soon as I find a job, I’ll find another place to live," she said, adding that she believed she had not caused any inconvenience to others.

Top photos from Shin Min Daily News