Clarke Quay, Boat Quay, Pulau Saigon & The Small Dagger Secret Society

Today, nobody talks about The Small Dagger Secret Society (小刀会) anymore. After all, it has been almost 200 years. Born, raised and bred in Singapore, Tan Keng Chin took off from Singapore to China.

Together with his comrades, he set history ablaze trying to oust the Qing Dynasty. It was 1850. They failed. He was killed. The Small Dagger Secret Society disbanded and escaped to all over Asia. His brothers, also from Singapore (& also part of the Small Dagger Secret Society), eventually built a very successful business empire covering almost all of Asia, especially Vietnam and Singapore. Part of their business stronghold was at Pulau Saigon, then unheard of.

Once upon a time, there was a small, pretty island sitting in the middle of Singapore River. It was small, heart-shaped, and was nothing more than another swamp. Not many people paid any attention to it. Not much of it is known, as no one kept a detailed record of it. By the late 1800s, Tan Keng Sing, a brother of Tan Keng Chin, had turned sleepy Pulau Saigon into another bustling warehouse area, aka Clarke Quay and Boat Quay.

Today, Pulau Saigon doesn’t exist anymore. So, it is true to say that an island can indeed disappear! In this case, Pulau Saigon was methodically and systematically drained and reclaimed as part of mainland Singapore. The River Place condominium now sits proudly on it.

The history of Pulau Saigon and The Small Dagger Secret Society is hardly ever mentioned. I suspect some of the residents at River Place condominium may not even be aware they are indeed sitting on Pulau Saigon.

I invite you to take a scenic walk with me down this beautiful promenade and admire the beauty that technology and science can create. Along the way, we’ll reminisce about the swash-buckling years of the mid-1850s!! We’ll talk about the fate of The Small Dagger Secret Society, and also discuss how the Tan brothers made it so rich that they even owned Bukit Pasoh!

This is a memory walk down a colorful promenade all the way from Clarke Quay to Great World City. We meet at Clarke Quay MRT at 9am on the 29th November 2026 (SUNDAY). This tour will end at Great World City – another happy place!

Note:

• We do the worldwide practice of tipping at the end of the tour. Tipping guide as follows: $20 for a satisfactory guide, $20+ for a guide who exceeds expectations, and $30 for an outstanding guide.
• We also reserve the right to accept or reject habitual late cancellations and no-shows.

Do not sign up for this tour if you are not sure of your schedule. Please understand this method of booking platform can only perform its best with your full sincerity. Sign up only when you are sure of your schedule. We look forward to your graciousness and generosity!