Singapore, a city-state at the crossroads of Southeast Asia, offers a surprisingly rich ecosystem for readers seeking books from and about the region. Despite a small domestic market, the island's role as a regional hub means that titles from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines are more accessible here than in almost any other city outside those countries. This guide maps out the key physical and online retailers where you can find Southeast Asian books, from contemporary novels and translations to historical non-fiction, travel writing, and academic works. Prices are in Singapore dollars (SGD) unless otherwise noted, and all locations are accurate as of early 2025.
Major Bookstore Chains and Their Southeast Asian Sections
Singapore's two dominant bookstore chains, Kinokuniya and Popular Bookstore, both carry Southeast Asian titles, though their strengths differ considerably.
Kinokuniya Singapore (Ngee Ann City)
The flagship Kinokuniya at Ngee Ann City (391 Orchard Road, #04-20/21/22, 238872) is arguably the best single-location bookstore in Southeast Asia for regional literature. Its Asian Fiction and Asian Non-Fiction sections occupy several bays on the second floor. As of early 2025, the store stocks approximately 200-300 Southeast Asian titles in English, including works by major authors such as Indonesian writers in English, Malaysian literary icons, and Thai authors to watch. Prices range from SGD 18 to SGD 35 for paperbacks, with hardcovers typically SGD 35-55. Kinokuniya also imports small-press titles from Malaysia (such as those from Matahari Books and Buku Fixi) and Indonesia (Kepustakaan Populer Gramedia), which are difficult to find elsewhere. The store's staff frequently update displays for recent releases, and they offer a free special-order service for any title available from their Japanese parent company's distribution network.
Popular Bookstore (Multiple Locations)
Popular Bookstore, with over 30 outlets across Singapore, is the go-to for mass-market Southeast Asian books, especially Malay-language titles, Chinese translations of regional works, and affordable educational materials. The Popular at Plaza Singapura (68 Orchard Road, #03-00, 238839) has the largest selection of Malay fiction and non-fiction, with prices typically SGD 8-20. Popular also carries a limited range of English-language Southeast Asian literature, though the selection is narrower than Kinokuniya's. For readers interested in colonial Malaysia in literature, Popular's history section sometimes stocks reprints of classic Malayan novels and memoirs. The chain's BookPoint stores (a subsidiary) in heartland malls occasionally have remaindered or discounted Southeast Asian titles for as low as SGD 5.
Independent Bookshops Specialising in Southeast Asian Books
Singapore's independent bookshops punch above their weight in curating regional content. These stores often stock titles that major chains overlook and provide knowledgeable recommendations.
Littered with Books (Duxton Hill)
Located at 20 Duxton Road (089486), Littered with Books is a two-storey independent shop that dedicates a significant portion of its floor space to Southeast Asian literature. The ground floor features a curated Southeast Asian Fiction shelf with roughly 80-100 titles, including works by Singapore authors top 10 and Indonesian fiction in translation. The upstairs mezzanine holds a section on regional history and politics, with titles on the Vietnam War, Indonesian independence, and Thailand's political history. Prices are slightly above chain averages, SGD 25-40 for paperbacks, but the curation is excellent. The owner, a former journalist, often stocks small-press poetry collections and essays from the region that are unavailable elsewhere. Littered with Books also hosts monthly readings featuring Southeast Asian authors; check their Instagram (@litteredwithbooks) for schedules.
BooksActually (Tiong Bahru)
A stalwart of Singapore's indie literary scene, BooksActually at 9 Yong Siak Street (168645) has been championing local and regional writing since 2005. Their Singapore Literature section is the most comprehensive in the city, but they also carry a rotating selection of Malaysian and Indonesian works in English. The store publishes its own imprint, Math Paper Press, which releases limited-edition chapbooks and anthologies by emerging Southeast Asian writers, prices for these are SGD 12-20. BooksActually is particularly strong on travel writing Southeast Asia best, with a dedicated shelf of memoirs and travelogues by authors who have journeyed through the region. The shop's staff are famously passionate; they can often recommend obscure titles that match your interests. Note that BooksActually closes on Mondays and opens from 11:00 to 19:00 Tuesday to Sunday.
Epigram Books (Funan Mall)
Epigram Books, primarily a publisher, opened a retail space at 107 North Bridge Road, #02-28 Funan (179105) in 2021. The shop focuses on its own catalogue, which includes many Southeast Asian titles, notably the Epigram Books Fiction Prize winners and shortlisted works from Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Prices are publisher-direct: SGD 20-28 for trade paperbacks. Epigram also stocks a small selection of regional graphic novels and children's books, including translations of Thai and Vietnamese folk tales. For readers interested in Vietnamese literary gems, Epigram carries a few English translations from Nhã Nam Publishing (Vietnam's leading literary publisher).
Secondhand and Rare Book Dealers
For out-of-print Southeast Asian titles, academic works, and vintage editions, Singapore's secondhand bookshops are invaluable. Prices here are typically SGD 5-20 for used paperbacks, with rare items going for SGD 30-150.
Basheer Graphic Books (Bras Basah Complex)
Bras Basah Complex (231 Bain Street, 180231) is a book-lover's warren, with several secondhand shops stacked across four floors. Basheer Graphic Books (#04-19) is primarily an art and design bookstore, but its back shelves hold a surprising number of Southeast Asian history and culture books, especially on Indonesian and Thai art, architecture, and textiles. Prices are moderate: SGD 10-30 for used titles. The shop also buys and trades, so stock changes frequently.
Evernew Bookshop (Bras Basah Complex)
Located at #03-12, Evernew Bookshop is a cluttered, treasure-hunt style store with thousands of secondhand books. Their Southeast Asian section is small but often rewarding, with older editions of classic works such as Mochtar Lubis' Twilight in Jakarta and Pramoedya Ananta Toer's Buru Quartet (sometimes in the original Indonesian). Prices are among the lowest in Singapore: SGD 5-12 for most paperbacks. Evernew also carries a selection of Thailand history books English and Vietnam War books from the 1960s, 1980s, which are hard to find elsewhere.
Antiquarian Booksellers (Online and by Appointment)
For rare or collectible Southeast Asian books, two specialist dealers operate in Singapore. Select Books (formerly at Tanglin Shopping Centre) now runs an online store at selectbooks.com.sg with a curated collection of new and rare titles on Southeast Asia, they have a particularly strong section on Indonesian independence narratives and colonial-era travelogues. Prices range from SGD 20 to SGD 200. Graham Brash, a long-established academic bookseller, occasionally lists rare Southeast Asian titles on their website; they also attend the annual Singapore Book Fair held at the Singapore Expo in June.
Online Retailers and Delivery Options
For readers who prefer to shop from home, several online platforms deliver Southeast Asian books within Singapore and internationally.
Amazon.sg
Amazon's Singapore site (amazon.sg) offers a growing catalogue of Southeast Asian books, particularly from Malaysian and Indonesian publishers that list directly. Prime members get free delivery on orders over SGD 40. Selection is strongest for mass-market titles; you can find Thai translated fiction and best Vietnamese novels in English with 1-2 day shipping. Prices are competitive: SGD 15-30 for most paperbacks. However, the platform's algorithm-driven recommendations can miss smaller presses, so you may need to search by publisher name.
Books Kinokuniya Webstore
Kinokuniya Singapore's webstore (kinokuniya.com.sg) mirrors its Orchard Road inventory and offers free in-store pickup or delivery (SGD 5 for orders under SGD 50). The website allows you to search specifically for Southeast Asian publishers, for example, filtering by PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama or Matahari Books. This is the most reliable way to pre-order new releases from the region. Delivery within Singapore takes 2-4 business days.
Book Depository / Blackwell's (International)
Though Book Depository closed in 2023, Blackwell's (blackwells.co.uk) ships many Southeast Asian studies titles to Singapore with free delivery (prices include VAT, which is removed at checkout for Singapore addresses). They stock university press titles from NUS Press, ISEAS, and Silkworm Books (Chiang Mai) that are often not available in local stores. Delivery takes 10-14 days. This is a good option for academic works on Indonesia travel narratives or Philippines travel books that are published in small print runs.
Specialised Publishers and Direct Sales
Buying directly from Southeast Asian publishers can save money and ensure access to the full catalogue. Many publishers offer online sales with international shipping.
NUS Press (Singapore)
NUS Press (nuspress.nus.edu.sg) is the leading academic publisher for Southeast Asian studies. Their catalogue includes over 500 titles on regional history, politics, culture, and literature. Prices range from SGD 30-60 for paperbacks. They offer free delivery within Singapore for orders over SGD 50. NUS Press publishes key works such as The Singapore Story by Lee Kuan Yew and academic monographs on Thailand travel memoirs and colonial literature. Their annual warehouse sale in March offers discounts of 50-70% on selected titles.
ISEAS, Yusof Ishak Institute (Singapore)
The ISEAS Publishing arm (bookshop.iseas.edu.sg) produces around 80 new titles each year on Southeast Asian affairs. Their focus is on contemporary politics, economics, and international relations, but they also publish literary criticism and historical studies. Prices are SGD 25-50. ISEAS offers a 20% discount to members of the institute (free registration). Their bookshop at 30 Heng Mui Keng Terrace (119614) is open weekdays 9:00-17:00 and stocks the full catalogue.
Silkworm Books (Thailand), Online Orders
Silkworm Books (silkwormbooks.com), based in Chiang Mai, specialises in English-language books on Thailand and Southeast Asia. They ship internationally; shipping to Singapore costs approximately SGD 8-12 for one book. Their catalogue includes Vietnam travel guides history, Thai fiction in translation, and works on Burmese and Lao culture. Prices are SGD 20-35. Silkworm also offers e-book versions for SGD 10-15 via their website.
Libraries and Borrowing Options
While the focus of this guide is buying books, it is worth noting that Singapore's public libraries offer an extensive collection of Southeast Asian titles for borrowing at no cost.
The National Library Board (NLB) operates 27 public libraries across Singapore. The flagship Lee Kong Chian Reference Library at 100 Victoria Street (188064) has a dedicated Southeast Asian collection on the 7th floor, with over 10,000 volumes covering all countries in the region. The library@chinatown (133 New Bridge Road, #04-12, 059413) has a strong selection of Chinese-language Southeast Asian literature. Membership is free for Singapore citizens and permanent residents; foreigners can register for an annual fee of SGD 42.90 (2025 rate). The NLB mobile app allows you to reserve books from any branch for pickup at your preferred location. For those who want to preview a book before buying, the library is an excellent resource.
Additionally, the National University of Singapore (NUS) Central Library and the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Library have extensive Southeast Asian collections, though access is restricted to students and staff. Members of the public can purchase visitor passes (SGD 10 per day) to use these libraries for reference purposes.
Book Fairs and Literary Events
Singapore hosts several annual events where Southeast Asian books are sold, often at discounted prices.
The Singapore Book Fair, held each June at the Singapore Expo, features booths from major publishers like Epigram Books, Penguin Random House SEA, and local distributors. Discounts of 20-50% are common. The fair also includes a section dedicated to regional small presses, where you can find Indonesian writers in English and Malaysian literary icons at prices below retail.
The Singapore Writers Festival (usually in November) includes a pop-up bookstore run by Littered with Books, featuring titles by festival participants and other Southeast Asian authors. Books are sold at full retail price, but the festival offers a unique chance to meet authors and get signed copies.
Smaller events like the Pasar Glamour Book Bazaar (held quarterly at various locations in the Malay Heritage Centre) focus on Malay-language and Indonesian books, with prices as low as SGD 5 for used titles.
Practical Tips for Buyers
- Check publication dates, Some Southeast Asian books in Singapore stores may be older editions. For recent translations, check the copyright page for the latest reprint.
- Price compare, A title that costs SGD 30 at Kinokuniya may be SGD 22 at Epigram Books or SGD 15 on Amazon.sg. For academic titles, NUS Press and ISEAS offer the best prices directly.
- Ask staff, Independent bookshops like Littered with Books and BooksActually are staffed by readers who know their inventory. They can often recommend titles based on your interests.
- Use library catalogues, Before buying a book that is expensive or hard to find, check the NLB catalogue. If the library holds a copy, you can borrow it for free and decide if you want to purchase.
- Pre-order new releases, For highly anticipated titles (e.g., new novels by Singapore authors top 10), pre-ordering from Kinokuniya or Epigram Books ensures you get a copy on release day.
Whether you are a long-time collector of Southeast Asian literature or a newcomer exploring the region's rich literary traditions, Singapore offers multiple avenues to find the books you want. The combination of major chains, independent curators, secondhand specialists, and direct publisher sales means that with a little effort, you can build a substantial library of works from across the region without leaving the island.
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