A free exhibition in Singapore is turning the usually dry topic of national reserves into something you can actually play with. The Secret Vault, opened by sovereign wealth fund GIC to mark its 45th anniversary, runs at New Bahru's L2 School Hall until 1 November 2026 — and admission won't cost you a cent.
It's GIC's first-ever public exhibition, and it's laid out as six interactive chambers. You enter through a steel bank vault straight out of a heist film, then start at The Archive, where a rotary phone lets you dial up recorded thoughts from founding leaders Lee Kuan Yew, Dr Goh Keng Swee and Yong Pung How. There's also a wall of old-style safe deposit boxes holding replicas of historic government statements, including one responding to news of the sterling's devaluation, plus a 1981 copy of The Business Times covering GIC's incorporation.
The standout room for many visitors is The Global Inflation Hypermart, styled like a supermarket. Grab a shopping list via QR code, hunt down the groceries, and scan each item to see how prices balloon over decades. A pack of chye sim that cost 54 cents in 1981 could run to a jaw-dropping $55.25 by 2099. Even toothpaste isn't safe — a $3.50 tube in 2025 is projected to hit $9.35 by 2050.
From there, things get moodier. The Weather Room simulates economic shocks — recessions, COVID-19, new technologies — complete with flashing headlines and simulated rain that kicks in when the news turns grim. The Steward's Gardens flips the tone again with a torch-lit maze where kids can hunt for 22 hidden "snakes" representing investment risks, before moving into a digital garden you can water to watch flowers bloom. The Globe showcases actual GIC investments worldwide (expect a few surprises, like a stake in India's Asia Healthcare Holdings), and the final chamber, The Reserves of Tomorrow, invites you to share your hopes for the future on a shared screen.
Grab a free blind bag charm on the way out — six designs, no secret rare to chase.
Why bother? Because it's an unusually hands-on, free way to spend a couple of hours indoors in Singapore, and it works for families as much as curious adults. The financial concepts are pitched to be beginner-friendly, so you don't need to know your bonds from your equities to enjoy it. Pair it with the cafes and shops at New Bahru itself, and you've got a solid half-day outing near the city fringe.
Practical bits: entry is free but you should register online for a date and time slot — walk-ins are possible when it's quiet but not guaranteed. Opening hours run 12pm-6pm Mondays, 11am-7pm Tuesday to Thursday, and 11am-8pm Friday to Sunday. To get there, take the MRT to Fort Canning Station, Exit A, then walk about 13 minutes; alternatively, a free shuttle runs from Pan Pacific Serviced Suites Orchard every 30 minutes between 12pm and 8pm daily.
Credit: The Smart Local
