Potong Pasir SMC Toa Payoh (IPA: /ˌtɔː ˈpɑːjoʊ, ˌtoʊ -/ taw PAH-yoh or toh PAH-yoh, simplified Chinese: 大巴窑; traditional Chinese: 大巴窯, Tamil: தோ பாயோ) is a planning area and mature residential town located in the northern part of the Central Region of Singapore.

[4][5] Toa Payoh planning area borders Bishan and Serangoon to the north, the Central Water Catchment to the northwest, Kallang to the south, Geylang to the southeast, Novena to the west and Hougang to the east.

Toa Payoh's old Chinese name, was known as Ang Chiang San (alternatively An Xiang Shan) or "burial hill".

[7] Throughout the 1960s up till the beginning of the 1980s, the town, much like Geylang today, was infamous for its vice, being home to some of Singapore's largest crime syndicates and gangs.

The result, as in the English new towns of the 1950s, is that residents tend less to travel to the main town centre but rather to shop within their neighbourhood; if they travel, they would go to the city via the MRT system, at the Toa Payoh and Braddell MRT stations, or public bus services at Toa Payoh Bus Interchange.

The Housing and Development Board relocated its headquarters from its premises at Bukit Merah to the HDB Hub on 10 June 2002.

The HDB Hub comprises two wings, an atrium, four commercial building blocks, a leisure and learning centre and a three-storey basement parking lot.

An interesting landmark in Toa Payoh Central is a small tree shrine known as Ci Ern Ge Temple.

The town garden used to be popular with visitors who came from near and far to enjoy the display of willows, bamboos and the brilliant reds and yellows of the Delonix regia trees.

The garden is buffered from the noise and night-time glare of passing traffic along Jalan Toa Payoh by an elevated slope planted with thick rows of Angsanas.

There are also a children's playground, seating areas and outdoor chessboard, a tea kiosk and a 27-metre high viewing tower.

It includes the 3,500-seat Toa Payoh Stadium, where Singapore Premier League club Balestier Khalsa FC plays its home games.

Toa Payoh Sports Hall is located besides the stadium, as well as the Singapore Table Tennis Association Academy.