Halloween is creeping up on us once again, and so is Haw Par Villa’s annual horror festival, making a surprise return for its 5th edition. This year, Haw Ror Villa 5! – Back From The Dead will take place over 22 nights, from 8th October to 15th November 2026.
If you’re not fond of horror, you may be thinking: “Why would I pay money to scare myself?” Same here. But fear not; consider me your sacrificial lamb as I brave through the scares of Haw Ror Villa 5. By the end of this article, you’ll know if the sinister experience is worth stepping out of your comfort zone for.
Haw Ror Villa initially began as a celebration marking the anniversary of Haw Par Villa’s Hell’s Museum. But as Halloween attractions like Halloween Horror Night grew in popularity, there was growing interest in seeing what a uniquely local Halloween experience could look like at Haw Par Villa.
P.S. Check out our ranking for the haunted houses at Halloween Horror Nights 2026.
From 2023 onwards, Haw Ror Villa became an annual Halloween tradition, featuring spooky decorations and scare actors spread throughout the park. Although Haw Ror Villa 4 was announced as the final edition, heritage tour company Journeys decided to bring the scares back for 1 more year after an overwhelming response from fans calling for its return.
Image credit: Haw Ror Villa
This year’s rendition of Haw Ror Villa brings you 4 scare zones, each with their own distinct themes and atmosphere, but all connected through an inter-zone game. You can also expect to be immersed in the storyline, which picks up 1 year after the events of Haw Ror Villa 4.
Before your experience even begins, you’ll be separated into 3 different houses based on the colour of your wristbands. The houses are inspired by the 3 poisons of Buddhism: desire, delusion, and hatred.
But don’t worry if you and your friends are sorted into different houses, you can still stay together throughout the experience. Your house only determines the games you’ll play, so you’ll still get to spend the night solving all mysteries together.
Those with red wristbands are part of the house of desire.
What sets Haw Ror Villa apart from your typical Halloween attractions is its focus on Asian folklore and horror. With familiar stories and beliefs woven into the experience, some of the scares hit a little too close to home for me. So while horror fans may have a field day, those of us who scare easily might want to clutch onto a friend before entering.
A year has passed since a mysterious cult made Haw Par Villa their headquarters and opened a portal to Hell, leaving the cultural theme park seemingly abandoned. That is, until people started receiving letters inviting them back to the park, promising them fortune and wealth. You’ve received a letter as well, and despite your better judgement, you’ve ended up back in Haw Par Villa.
This is the story that sets the stage as you enter Zone 1: Guide to Sin City.
The court official welcoming visitors.
Upon stepping in, you’ll be greeted by a court official from the 10 Courts of Hell, who guides you through the entrance of Haw Par Villa and introduces you to the history of what was once Tiger Balm Park. Pay special attention to how you can earn karmic points as you make your way through the different zones, as these points may help you secure a better fate after death.
This zone does a great job of setting the tone for the rest of the night. I found myself so immersed in the story that at moments, I couldn’t tell which parts were based on real history and which were fabricated just for the show.
The hungry ghost performing for the audience.
But don’t get too comfortable; you may be guided by one of Hell’s court officials, but that doesn’t stop malicious spirits from lurking in the darkness, waiting to reveal themselves when you least expect it.
And once you enter the park, you’ll find yourself within Hell’s Museum, home to the infamous 10 Courts of Hell and its depictions of the cruel moral punishments described in traditional Chinese folklore.
But the museum is not what it seems, as it’s become Zone 2: Gateway to Hell, an arena for tormented souls fighting to escape the park. One of those souls is you, forced to uncover secrets and solve puzzles if you want to break free from Hell’s grip.
The star of the zone is, of course, Hell’s Museum, where you’ll travel through the 10 Courts of Hell while trying to avoid undead spirits that aren’t exactly happy to see you trespassing through their domain.
Zone 2 is by far the largest and scariest of the 4, so brave yourself as you explore different parts of the park, solving mysteries to earn more karmic points. I’m not ashamed to admit that it’s also the zone where I screamed the most. The atmosphere was eerie and unsettling, and while no music was playing when I walked through, an ominous soundtrack will be added on event days, making the experience even more unnerving.
My only gripe was how dark and jumpscare-heavy the museum was; I barely got to appreciate the sculptures depicting the punishments of Hell. If you want a closer look at them, make sure you come back another time to visit the museum when it’s not infested with monsters.
Twinning with the pocong.
You may have escaped the 10 Courts of Hell, but there’s no time to catch your breath as you’re now met with Zone 3: The Haunted Labyrinth, an eerie maze filled with twists and turns. The maze’s narrow path forces you to go in single file, so nope, you can’t hide behind a friend. You might even come face-to-face with some of Asian folklore’s most infamous creatures, including the pontianak, pocong, and toyol.
Here, you’ll also get to uncover the forgotten history of Dragon World, the attraction where entertainers like Gurmit Singh and Kumar made their debut, before its closing in 2001.
Despite being a very short and simple zone, it doesn’t skimp on the scares. Even when I knew roughly when the scares were coming, the scare actors did an amazing job of keeping the tension high and catching me off guard. They even followed me out of the maze to continue the chase, which was frankly unnecessary, but effective.
Pro tip: If you manage to keep your eyes open long enough, you can also earn karmic points by correctly naming the monsters you encountered in the maze. This makes Zone 3, in my opinion, the most fun to revisit, as you try to identify the creatures you missed on your 1st run.
After everything Haw Par Villa has thrown your way, you’ve managed to survive, and freedom seems to be within reach. But as you enter Zone 4: The Point of No Return, what appears to be an easy escape has turned into something far more sinister.
A new evil has awakened in the park, determined to keep its visitors trapped, and the only way out is to overcome the final challenge that’s standing in your way.
Zone 4 serves as the final segment of Haw Ror Villa 5, bringing the focus back to the performance just like Zone 1. But the most unique part has to be the exit. The story literally ends with you leaving Haw Par Villa, and there’s no re-entry. Once it’s done, it’s done. To make things more interesting, you’ll be leaving through an exit that has never been used by the public before.
Unfortunately, I didn’t get to experience Zone 4 for myself, which just gives you another reason to visit Haw Ror Villa 5 and see what awaits.
It’s finally time for me to answer the question: Was Haw Ror Villa 5 scary? Even if you’re a seasoned horror buff, I’d say the answer is yes. And for me, a self-proclaimed scaredy-cat, the scare factor was an 11/10.
Haw Par Villa already has that naturally creepy atmosphere, with its history and depictions of life and death. Add in scare actors who know how to time their scares perfectly, along with unsettling props and decorations scattered throughout the park, and there won’t be a moment when you’re not on edge.
Zone 3 was easily my personal favourite, with each scare building off from the last and getting progressively more intense. But if my experiences sounded too overwhelming for you, there’s still a way to enjoy Haw Ror Villa without being scared out of your mind.
The park brought back the popular Family Zone from the previous year, with a whole range of interactive activities such as tarot card readings, Halloween face painting, and even trick-or-treating.
P.S. If you went to previous editions of Haw Ror Villa, you might recognise Candy, the fan-favourite spirit wearing a traditional Chinese qipao. She’ll be roaming the park freely, so make sure to give her some attention; she loves it.
Standard adult tickets for the event cost $55, while children aged 7 to 12 can get the child ticket for $40.
Alternatively, use your SG Culture Pass credits to pay for your ticket and experience Haw Ror Villa 5 for free; there’s even a discount if you’re buying the 2-ticket bundle. BTW, you can also earn 10 miles per $1 spent if you use Pelago to book your tickets.
Children aged 6 and below can also enter for free, but parental discretion is strongly advised.
If you suddenly feel like heading down to Haw Ror Villa 5 on a random Thursday night, you might be glad to know that walk-ins are accepted, but only for a limited number of tickets. That being said, if you already have plans to go, make sure to book your ticket online beforehand.
If you’re taking the MRT, the event is set up right next to Haw Par Villa MRT Station, so you’ll spot it as soon as you exit the station.
For those driving, the carpark at Haw Par Villa is currently closed. Instead, there’s parking available directly opposite the park at ORTO West Coast.
Light snacks and refreshments will be available as you make your way through the different zones, with most priced below $5. But if you’re looking for a proper meal, remember to have your dinner before the event, as outside food and drinks, except for plain water, are not allowed inside the park.
It is estimated to take 2 to 2.5 hours to complete all 4 zones. These are the suggested timings to spend at each zone, as shared by the event organisers:
To give yourself the best chances of experiencing all 4 zones, come 30 minutes before your time slot to redeem your ticket early.
For those who want to soak in the Halloween atmosphere, try heading down later in the night. Haw Ror Villa 5 runs from 6.30pm to 12am, with last entry at 10pm, so consider planning a late-night visit for creepier vibes.
I came into this as a horror hater, and while I don’t think I’d put myself through that again anytime soon, it was a surprisingly fun experience. Whether you’re an Asian horror fanatic or just looking for spine-chilling scares, make sure to include Haw Ror Villa 5 as part of your Halloween plans this October.
For more creepy reads this spooky season:
Photography by Eldora Chong.
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