'I thought it was impossible': Singapore content creator proves himself wrong, hitchhikes from Changi Village to Tuas

Singaporean content creator Ng Yi Hui was sceptical when challenged to hitchhike across the island, but was proven wrong when he managed to successfully travel across the country with the help of people he met.

In a series of three TikTok videos which have garnered over 124,000 views combined, 27-year-old Ng, who is known for travelling across the globe on a budget, documented his journey across Singapore from Changi Village to Tuas.

The first video was posted on Sept 19, with one video posted per day.

Speaking to AsiaOne, Ng said that the idea to hitchhike was prompted by Chinese publication Lianhe Zaobao, which challenged him to it.

"I felt that crossing the length of Singapore would be a good way to experiment if hitchhiking in Singapore is even possible," he said.

Despite having previous hitchhiking experiences in places like China and Thailand, Ng was doubtful about doing it locally.

"I always thought that it was impossible in Singapore," he told AsiaOne, saying that people "may sometimes come across as more reserved" and thus less open to helping him out.

He added: "Singapore also felt like a place that I was more likely to get judged doing this as a local compared to as a tourist, but when I actually decided to just embrace this discomfort, it turned out to be a really fun experience."

The journey from Changi Village began at 11.30am and ended at around 4.25pm, according to Ng, who said that he was surprised that people he approached "were more curious than judgmental". 

"Singaporeans who rejected me were actually more friendly than I expected. There are the usual people who understandably don't want to be bothered at all, but there were a lot of friendly rejections as well," he said. 

Ng also encountered many who were not travelling in his desired direction, but encouraged him to complete the challenge.

Based on his TikTok videos, he managed to hitch rides from a range of people, including a foreign worker, an elderly couple, and a father.

Reflecting on the challenge, Ng said said that he "really enjoyed" himself.

"I usually only try things like this while traveling and am eager to get to know a new place and culture. However, the people I met at home were actually just as interesting."

He added that it was also "really heartening to be proven wrong", knowing that there are people in Singapore who would be open and willing to help.

Ng has been creating content and travelling since he graduated with a master's degree in Engineering in 2025, documenting his post-graduate life as he challenges himself to find new experiences.

Additional reporting by Naufal Danish

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dana.leong@asiaone.com