Nee Soon Camp – How To Get There, History & What To Eat
An MRT Station in close proximity, a variety of food options within few minutes of travelling, a golf course just opposite the road and a tourist attraction nearby – these barely sound like the surrounding area of an army camp. But lo and behold, Nee Soon Camp is indeed situated in such a superior location. A posting to this camp might even make your fellow BMT mates who are posted to Sungei Gedong Camp green with envy!
Many units of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), including the Singapore Combat Engineers, the SAF Medical Corps, the Army Deployment Force and the SAF Band, are based in Nee Soon Camp. Let’s learn more about the location of this camp, the history of the Nee Soon area as well as the dining options nearby in this blog post.
1. How To Get To Nee Soon Camp
The address of Nee Soon Camp is:
303 Transit Road
Singapore 778895
As can be seen from the map above, Nee Soon Camp sits on an enormous plot of land enclosed by three main roads – Mandai Avenue, Sembawang Road and part of the Seletar Expressway (SLE).
The most notable development in the area surrounding the camp is the opening of Springleaf MRT Station (TE4) in 2021. This brings a great degree of connectivity to this area and benefits the personnel working at this camp as well as the full-time National Servicemen (NSFs) deployed to this camp. The Thomson-East Coast Line (TEL) linking Springleaf MRT Station (TE4) and Woodlands South MRT Station (TE3) runs underground across the plot of Nee Soon Camp and Sembawang Air Base.
In Singapore, nowhere is too far away if there is an MRT station nearby. With Singapore’s comprehensive train network and numerous interchanges linking the different lines, travelling is as hassle-free as can be. This can be said for Nee Soon Camp as compared to other less accessible camps like Hendon Camp and Mandai Hill Camp.
There are also 4 bus services which will take you there – SBS Transit Bus 860 and Tower Transit Bus 167, Bus 169 and Bus 980.
The bus stop to alight is 57021, just outside Forest Hills condominium along Sembawang Road.
If you are alighting at the opposite side, the bus stop is 57029, just outside The Brooks II condominium.
About SBS Transit Bus 860
It is a loop service starting from Yio Chu Kang Interchange. Bus stop 57021 is 6.3 km away from the interchange and is the 16th stop. On all days, the first bus sets off at 0530 and the last bus sets off at 2340. The frequency of this bus service ranges from 9 minutes to 18 minutes. For more information on this bus service, visit this link.
About Tower Transit Bus 167
In Direction 1, Bus 167 starts from Sembawang Interchange. Bus stop 57029 is 6.5 km away from the interchange and is the 16th stop. On weekdays and Saturdays, the first bus sets off at 0530. On Sundays and public holidays, the first bus sets off at 0545. On all days, the last bus sets off at 2330. The frequency of this bus service ranges from 15 minutes to 18 minutes.
In Direction 2, Bus 167 starts from Bukit Merah Interchange. Bus stop 57021 is 23.5 km away from the interchange and is the 56th stop. Unless one wants to go on a sight-seeing trip on this bus, it may be wise to take this bus from Springleaf MRT Station (Bus Stop 56091) on the TEL line, or Newton MRT Station (Bus Stop 40181) on the North-South line. On weekdays and Saturdays, the first bus sets off at 0545. On Sundays and public holidays, the first bus sets off at 0600. On all days, the last bus sets off at 2345. The frequency of this bus service ranges from 15 minutes to 18 minutes.
For more information, do visit this link.
About Tower Transit Bus 169
Bus 169
About Tower Transit Bus 980
Bus 980
2. A Brief History Of The Area
Perhaps we have to read all about Lim Nee Soon if we want to know about how the Nee Soon area came to be.
However, for the purpose of this blog post, we should just focus on the portion which bears more significance to the camp.
Almost three decades ago in August 1996, the Basic Military Training Centre (BMTC) was established with School 1 in Pulau Tekong and School 2 in Nee Soon Camp. Many of our seniors who went through their BMT at Nee Soon Camp should remember Transit Road, the short path between Sembawang Road and the camp.
A row of shops selling a wide assortment of products lined Transit Road and had been in operation since 1945. In those super early days after World War II, many locals set up shops along this road to cater to British servicemen based in Nee Soon Camp. Courier and delivery services were in demand as the British regularly sent gifts and food back to their families in Britain.
The past six decades saw many brands and shops come and go. There used to be a bar, a provision shop, gift shops and even a tattoo studio! It was a popular hangout for both local servicemen as well as the Australians and New Zealanders who served formerly in military bases.
In the late 1980s, Transit Road was even dubbed “mini Orchard Road” as it offered a great variety of products albeit at lower prices of 20% discount or more. Servicemen from Nee Soon Camp, Khatib Camp as well as residents from the Seletar Hills estate frequented the shops to purchase items such as luggage, electronics, sports gear and toys.
Into the 1990s, business was no longer flourishing but the shops still enjoyed regular business from the NSFs who did their BMT at Nee Soon Camp. In March 1999, BMT School 2 made its official move to Pulau Tekong and this sealed the fate for the shops at Transit Road.
In later years, the shops were torn down to make way for private residential development.
3. What To Eat Around Nee Soon Camp
Cookhouse meals and ration packs can fill our stomachs and fulfill the dietary and nutritional requirements for us to participate in a whole day of strenuous activities. But to be honest, don’t we all crave a little of outside food after a few days of staying in camp?
I am rather delighted to be able to talk about food options around Nee Soon Camp in this post. For all my previous posts on army camps, there have always been a dearth of F&B establishments in the vicinity of the camps.
Han’s Union @ Springleaf Garden
| Address | 906 Upper Thomson Road Singapore 787110 |
| Opening Hours | All days: 0700 – 2200 |
Located just opposite Springleaf MRT Station along the row of shophouses, Hans Café is no stranger to many of us. Whether you are getting your morning caffeine fix, a main meal of local favourites or even a tea time snack, Hans Café has got you covered.
Scrambled egg with ham, chicken chop with mushroom sauce, aglio olio with chicken, carbonara chipolata, beef hor fun, herbal chicken, sweet and sour pork with rice, dark cherry pie, tau sar piah, cakes.. the list goes on and on.
Springleaf Prata Place
| Address | 1 Thong Soon Avenue Singapore 787431 |
| Opening Hours | 0800 – 2300 Last Order At 10.45 p.m. |
Prata is always a good idea whether you are booking in or booking out of Nee Soon Camp. The crisp on the outside, the chewy part in the middle and the buttery, fragrant taste that lingers..
Some items on their menu include fish head curry, mutton briyani, mee goreng, sardine murtabak and a great variety of pratas like mozzarella cheese, egg onion, paper, plaster, banana chocolate etc.