Former dental assistant finds passion and balance at Tiong Bahru Market
At 1.51m tall, Neo Hui Qin may not fit the stereotype of a fishmonger — but her determination and hands-on grit have made her a familiar and respected face at Tiong Bahru Market.
A Decade In Dentistry
After graduating from ITE in 2012, Ms Neo worked as a dental assistant for 10 years.
She left the job in 2023 following the passing of her employer, a dentist she deeply respected. At 32, she realised she did not want to work for anyone else and began searching for a new direction.
Inspired By Market Life
Her turning point came from helping out at a friend’s fish stall in Hougang during the Covid-19 pandemic.
She discovered she enjoyed the hands-on nature of the trade.
“Why not try the market, try being a fishmonger? Everything is hands-on, and I am good with hands-on,” she said.
With strong encouragement from her husband, family and friends, she opened her own stall at Tiong Bahru Market in April 2024.
Starting Small, Growing Confident
In the early days, Ms Neo focused on selling prawns.
“I wanted to have the confidence to sell,” she said, before gradually expanding into fish and other seafood varieties.
Her husband, a former navy serviceman, followed in her footsteps and became a fishmonger in November 2025, running a stall at Kovan Market.
The 1am Routine
A typical workday begins at 1am, when Ms Neo drives from Bukit Panjang to Jurong Fishery Port to select fresh seafood.
By 5am, she is setting up her stall. The physical work continues until around noon or 1pm.
“The hardest part of my job is waking up,” she said with a laugh.
Despite the long hours, she believes the trade offers better work-life balance, as she can spend afternoons with her parents.
Building A Reputation
Today, Ms Neo is known for her carefully arranged display of seafood — from grouper and snapper to pomfret and milk fish.
Fellow fishmonger Gary Teo described her as humble and determined.
“She may be small in size but her determination to succeed in a new industry, especially the fish business, is inspiring,” he said.
No Regrets About The Leap
Two years into her new career, Ms Neo says she has no regrets.
“I think I’ll do this forever, because I love this job,” she said.
She added that what surprised her most was discovering how much she could accomplish independently.
“I thought I needed help… but I can do everything on my own.”
Neo Hui Qin’s journey from dental assistant to fishmonger reflects a broader shift in how younger Singaporeans are redefining career paths. By choosing passion and independence over convention, she has carved out a space for herself in a traditional trade — proving that determination, not stature, defines success.
Sources: Straits Times (2026)
Keywords: Neo Hui Qin, Tiong Bahru Fish Stall, Jurong Fishery Port, Career Change Singapore, Women Entrepreneurs
