Hat Yai.
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Overview

Hat Yai (หาดใหญ่; also Hatyai, Had Yai, Haad Yai) is the fifth largest city in Thailand, the largest city in southern Thailand, and is in Songkhla Province on the Southern Gulf Coast. It's a popular tourist spot for Singaporeans, Indonesians, and especially Malaysians, as well as for Thais from neighbouring provinces. It's best avoided if you are looking to get off the beaten path. Prices are relatively high in tourist areas. This place has comparatively few Western visitors. The city can be a stop for tourists on a journey to Southern Thailand's beaches and islands (such as Ko Lipe), or further south to Malaysia and Singapore.

Understand

Hat Yai used to be a small village known as Khok Sa-Met Choon. Its population has been growing since the railway station was built in 1924, which made it an important rail junction between southern Thailand and Malaysia.

Today, Hat Yai is the biggest city in southern Thailand. The population is around 157,000 in the city in 2019, and over 400,000 in the whole Hat Yai District. Hat Yai is bigger than the provincial capital of Mueang Songkhla, which is unusual for a Thai province. This means that Hat Yai is often mistaken as the capital of Songkhla province. It is 60 km from the Thailand-Malaysia border at Dannok and Padang Besar in Sadao district. Hat Yai has become a centre for business, education, transportation, tourism, and shopping in south Thailand due to the well-established connections by road, rail, and air. The city has been a melange of Thais, Chinese, and Malays for generations. Trade, manufacturing, and tourism contribute much to the city's economic prosperity.

Hat Yai is home to five Overseas Chinese Associations: Teochew, Hokkien, Hainanese, Cantonese, and Hakka. One of the oldest parts of the city, centered around the railway station, including adjacent areas, traditionally has Chinese influences reflected in the culture, cuisine (e.g. dim sum, noodle dishes), architecture (Sino-Portuguese shophouses, Chinese shrines and temples), and festivals (e.g. Chinese New Year, Vegetarian/Nine Emperor Gods Festival, Moon Festival, Qingming Festival).

Being a hub for southern Thailand, one of the biggest cities in the country, and partly relying on tourism, Hat Yai has a substantial number of residents originally coming from other regions and especially neighboring provinces to live, work, or study, contributing to the melting pot of different cultures in the city.

In terms of religions, Hat Yai has a Buddhist majority population with a significant Muslim minority and smaller number of Christians, Hindus and Sikhs. Places of worship in the city include Thai wats, Chinese shrines/temples, mosques, churches, and a gurudwara.

The Southern Thai dialect is prominent, although Central Thai is used in offices and schools. Many older Thai-Chinese can speak a Chinese dialect called Teochew, while the Pattani Malay dialect, which is similar to the dialect of Malay spoken in Kelantan, is spoken by many of the ethnic Malays. English is mostly spoken by people in the tourism sector and educated young people. Climate

It is either dry or wet season in Hat Yai. The dry season is from January to April, which is the hottest month of the year, and wet season is from May to December. Major flooding occasionally occurs in November or December.

Tourist information centre You can pick up Hat Yai maps and brochures at the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Hat Yai Office.

There is a separate Tourist Assistance Centre at the corner of Odean Shopping Mall.

Get in

Taxis to the city can be found at the airport entrance. Drivers will ask around 250 baht. Blue coloured songthaews run into town for 55 baht and can be found at the far end of the parking lot. The last songthaew leaves the airport at 18:00. There is a regular pink-coloured bus going to the city which they call a minivan (50 baht). When you leave the airport the ticket counter will be on the right near taxi counters. You can recognize it by a pink sign. The bus stop is right after the exit. It takes around 1 hour 15 minutes for the bus to reach the main bus station in Hat Yai so plan ahead if making a connection. The currency exchange booth (Siam Commercial Bank) is on the first floor near the arrival hall, open daily 09:00-18:00.

Thai AirAsia: Operates domestic flights to Bangkok (Don Mueang), Chiang Mai, and Phuket. It also offers international routes such as Kuala Lumpur. Thai Lion Air: Provides domestic flights to Bangkok (Don Mueang) and Udon Thani. Nok Air: Offers domestic flights primarily to Bangkok (Don Mueang). Bangkok Airways: Connects Hat Yai with Phuket domestically. Thai Airways: Serves domestic routes, including Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi). Thai Vietjet Air: Operates domestic flights to Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi).

Thai AirAsia: Offers international flights to Kuala Lumpur. Batik Air Malaysia: Provides international flights to Kuala Lumpur. Scoot: Offers international connections to Singapore.

From Bangkok: Five trains run daily from Bangkok. Inbound "Express" trains depart Bangkok at 14:45, 15:10, and 22:50 while the slower "Rapid" trains depart at 13:00 and 15:35. Outbound Express trains depart Hat Yai at 16:23, 18:10, and 18:45 while Rapid trains depart at 14:45 and 15:39. Trains go via Nakhon Pathom, Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi, Hua Hin, Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, and Phatthalung.

A 3rd class ticket with reserved, upholstered seat sets you back 259 baht (Hat Yai-Bangkok) on "Rapid" trains and 339 baht for "Express" trains. Upper sleeper beds are always slightly cheaper because they do not have a window. Buy tickets at the railway station. Surcharges are imposed if bought at travel agents or online.

From Sungai Kolok: Six trains run daily from Sungai Kolok. Inbound "Express" train from Sungai Kolok departs there at 14:20, "Rapid" trains at 11:30 and 14:55, and local trains at 06:30, 08:55, and 12:25. Outbound "Express" train departs Hat Yai at 07:35, "Rapid" trains at 06:30 and 06:45, and local trains at 07:55, 10:18, 13:12. From Yala: Nine trains run daily from Yala. Inbound "Express" trains from Yala depart there at 14:55 and 16:09, "Rapid" trains at 12:35, 13:26 and 16:37, and local trains at 06:35, 08:28, 11:22, and 14:32. Outbound "Express" train departs Hat Yai at 07:35 and 12:50, "Rapid" trains at 06:30, 06:45, and 09:30, and local trains at 07:55, 10:18, 13:12, and 14:33. From Malaysia: Train service between Hat Yai and Butterworth is frequent, punctual, and comfortable. Malaysian Railways also runs special direct trains between KL and Hat Yai on special occasions. Check the KTMB website for details.

KTMB (Malaysian Railways) operates Komuter trains between Padang Besar and Butterworth, and ETS trains further south to Kuala Lumpur to Gemas. Komuter trains are non-reserved, air-conditioned trains with no toilet. ETS Gold/Platinum trains have all-reserved seating and travel up to 160 km/h. Refer to KTMB Berhad for ETS train booking, and KTM Jadual Train site for Komuter train schedule.

The new shuttle service began operating between Hat Yai and Padang Besar using Thai diesel A/C trains to connect with Malaysian ETS trains. The outbound trains leave Hat Yai twice daily at 07:30 and 13:05, and the inbound trains leave Padang Besar at 08:55 and 14:40 (Thai time). The ticket for these trains are sold one hour before departure and cannot be reserved advance, but don't worry they never sell out the ticket. For up-to date schedule refer to The State Railway of Thailand.

There is also one direct train from Bangkok. Special Express train number 46 leaves Padang Besar at 18:00 (Malaysian time) and arrives Bangkok at a 10:10 (Thai time), and train 45 leaves Bangkok at 15:10 (Thai time) and arrives at Padang Besar at 9:53 (Malaysian time). If you are in Malaysia it is advisable to book this train on-line directly at SRT website as KTMB (Malaysian railways) does not sell ticket for this train. It would be very expensive if you take this train just to Hat Yai (approx. 400 baht) as you need to buy a berth ticket.

Both Thai and Malaysian immigration inside the train station open one hour before departure of Thai trains.

Malaysian time is one hour ahead of Thai time (e.g. 12:00 in Thailand is 13:00 in Malaysia). When connecting trains in Padang Besar, be sure to check the departure time is in Malaysian or Thai. There is also no ATM or official currency exchange in Padang Besar station. It is advised to exchange enough money to buy the onward ticket before heading there.

If twice daily shuttle train to/from Hat Yai does not fit your schedule, take a local bus from clock tower in Hat Yai central (departs every hour on hour) or a minivan (departs when full) from Hat Yai bus terminal. The bus stops in front of Thai immigration complex, and you have to walk to the Malaysian immigration complex 600 m away. Mototaxis touts you for 100 baht/RM12 for the very short ride.

By car Many Malaysians and Singaporeans drive to Hat Yai in their own vehicles. Like Malaysia and Singapore, Thailand drives on the left. Starting from immigration at Dannok, take Rte 4 straight to Hat Yai (60 km).

Parking in business areas such as Niphat Uthit Rd during office hours is not free. An officer in khaki uniform will give you a small ticket once you pay for the time-based fee (5 baht/hour). Be prepared with small change.

Petrol in Thailand is significantly more expensive than in Malaysia. Big petrol stations also function as rest stops, with minimarts, coffee shops, and food courts.

Buses go to all major towns in south Thailand and up to Bangkok. Depending on the route, different classes of bus are available. These range from local orange coloured buses without air conditioning to luxurious 24-seat coaches with toilets and reclining seats.

Buy tickets only from ticket counters. Do not allow yourself to be directed to agencies by touts (this includes tuk-tuk drivers in the bus station). You will pay more and most likely get a later time.

Minivans connect with all major locations in south Thailand from Hat Yai. Where they depart from depends on the destination, but the locals will be able to point you in the right direction. They are generally cheap and quicker than the buses but often overcrowded thus making them uncomfortable and dangerous.

From Bangkok Air-con buses by The Transport Co. Ltd. (บริษัทขนส่งจำกัด (บขส), baw-kaw-saw) run between Bangkok's southern bus terminal (สายใต้, Sai Tai) and Hat Yai bus terminal daily. The distance is ~954 km and normally takes 12 hours.

For the return, the departure is at 16:00, 17:00, and 18:00. 47 seat Class 2 bus (ม2) departs from Bangkok at 07:00, 17:00, and 21:45. Departs Hat Yai at 08:00, 15:30, and 17:00 for 535 baht.

Other scheduled, inter-provincial buses serve Hat Yai: Surat Thani, Phuket, Satun, Trang, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Krabi.

The bus to Songkhla goes past the clock tower along Phetkasem Rd (ถนนเพชรเกษม), at the intersection close to Montri 1 Rd (ถนนมนตรี 1).

From Malaysia Kuala Lumpur: There are several Malaysian bus companies that go to KL, you can get tickets either at tour agents or from the bus company shop. It's a 10-hour journey if you factor in waiting at immigration, a meal stop, and traffic when you arrive in Kuala Lumpur.

Alisan Golden Coach Express. Has 3 buses every day which leave Hat Yai to Kuala Lumpur, departure at 09:00, 11:00, and 19:00. Free Wi-Fi and power outlet for each seat. The A/C can be pretty cold and the blanket provided might not be adequate. Better bring your own blanket/jacket. The overnight bus from Hat Yai will stop after the Malaysian border checkpoint for a meal.

KKKL Tour. Buses depart Hat Yai for Kuala Lumpur (Pudu Sentral) at 09:30, 10:00, and 19:00. Buses depart Kuala Lumpur for Hat Yai at 09:00 and 10:00.

Konsortium Bas Ekspress Semenanjung. Has 5 buses every day which leave Hat Yai to Kuala Lumpur. Departures at 09:00, 09:30, 10:00, 12:00, and 19:00.

Thai Good Travel & Tour. Has buses and VIP Vans every day which leave Hat Yai to Penang, Taiping, Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur#TBS, Kepong, Kajang, Seremban, Johor Bahru, Singapore, Kuantan, departure at 09:00, 10.00, 11:00, 12.00, 1500 and 19:00. Free Wi-Fi and power outlet for each seat in certain coaches.

Penang: Scheduled air-conditioned minivans connect Hat Yai to Penang in Malaysia. Agencies near the bus terminal usually ask for 450-500 baht. Minivan times to Penang are 09:30, 12:30 and 15:30. Journey takes about 4-5 hours, depending on time spent at Sadao border.

Ipoh: There is a daily bus from Ipoh at 12:30 going to Hat Yai, departing from the long-distance bus terminal.

Border crossings There are three border crossings to choose from, all easily accessible from Hat Yai.

Dannok: Vans run from Hat Yai right up to the Thai immigration complex in Dannok in Sadao district. Vans leave Dannok in front of the 7-Eleven store on the left side of the street after leaving the immigration complex. The distance between the Thai and Malaysian immigration checkpoints is about 1 km, quite a distance to walk in the heat. You can take a motorcycle taxi between them. Bus and minivan to the border stop running around 18:00, so ask if there will be a return before boarding. Padang Besar: Minivans (70 baht) (Aug 2024) depart from Hat Yai Bus Station for Padang Besar (only to the Thai side). Journey time is about 1 hour. If you tell the driver you want to go to Malaysia, you will be dropped off opposite the 'Padang Besar Fishquarantine office' (Google Maps), and can get your exit stamp from Thailand there. Touts will warn you that the Malaysian immigration (on the Malay side) is about 7km away, and can offer you a moped taxi for 100 baht. In reality, it is 5 minutes walk away, perfectly safe, and can easily be accomplished by foot. Queues can be common on the Malay side getting an entry stamp - 1hr approx, as many daytrippers go home to Malaysia. There is no free wifi at the border. Sungai Kolok: A minibus runs from Hat Yai bus terminal right up to the Thai immigration complex in Sungai Kolok by passing through the provinces Pattani and Narathiwat in about 4 hours for 180 baht. When considering this option, consult local advice on current security threats. Many travel advisories caution that this an area to avoid however violence as of October 2022 has completely died down.

From Singapore There is a bus from Hat Yai at 13:00 arriving in Singapore at 05:00 on the day after. However you can buy the ticket at easybook.com and redbus.my for MR85 (cheaper than in Davis Tour).

Grassland Express. has a bus at 19:00 to Hat Yai for USD55.

Get around

The city's "tourist center" is not far from the train station. It's quite compact and covers parts of the city's oldest roads: Nipat-u-thit (นิพัทธ์อุทิศ) 1, 2, and 3 Rd. Locals call these roads: Sai Nueng, Sai Song, Sai Saam (สายหนึ่ง, สายสอง, สายสาม; lit. Road One, Road Two, Road Three). It is practical to get around on foot, but getting to most attractions will require some kind of transportation. Fun fact: in 2025 Hat Yai surpassed Bangkok as Thailand's most congested city. According to the TomTom Traffic Index, a journey of 10 km will take an average of 24 minutes in the city.

Tuk-tuks and motorbike taxis are abundant in Hat Yai. They are available from any hotel. Ask the person at reception to write down the Thai address for you and show it to the driver. Rides to places outside the town are negotiable. Shared taxis going outside town can be found at the old market.

By metered taxi Metered taxi (known as "taxi meter") is a good option if you want air conditioning and don't like to haggle with tuk-tuks.

Phromsut Transport. This company operates 50 cars. It is best to reserve in advance.

A Songthaew (สองแถว, lit. "two rows") is a modified light truck where passengers sit on benches in the covered tray area. The routes are colour-coded and written on the vehicle in Thai.

Blue songthaew runs from Hat Yai International Airport, passing Tesco Lotus 2 (Hat Yai Nai), Hat Yai Minivan Station (Talat Kaset), the intersection near Kim Yong Market, the clock tower, the fountain roundabout, Big C Extra (Carrefour), Kho Hong T-junction (the road to Hat Yai Park), Tesco Lotus 1 (opposite Prince of Songkla University), Green Way Market, ASEAN Trade Market, ends at Hat Yai Bus Station, and runs the same route back to the airport. 10-30 baht. Red/Maroon songthaew numbered 33 runs between the Bus Station and Koh Me, passing Diana, Kim Yong Market, the Clock Tower, BigC Extra (former Carrefour), Hatyai Park. Make sure it's numbered 33 since there are similarly-colored songthaews with different routes. The service ends around 18:00. White songthaew runs between Hat Yai Nai - Hatyai Park - Kuan Lang, passing along the route Kim Yong Market, the Clock Tower, Big C Extra (Carrefour).

By car or motorbike Car rental is available at the airport from Avis, Budget, and Master Car Rental (Sixt). The Cathay Guesthouse rents motorbikes starting at 200 baht/day for semi-automatics. Malay and English spoken. There's a place close to the Genting Hotel about 2 km east of the train station that rents motorbikes. . You can rent a motorbike or a scooter in some repair shops. For example, there is one at 47, Nipatuthit 1 Rd with an English-speaking owner who charges 250 baht per day. . Your passport will be needed as a deposit.

See

Hat Yai Park. The city's municipal park is 6 km from the city centre. It is a major recreational centre for the people of Hat Yai and surrounding areas. The park is full of beautiful flowering plants, with a pavilion in the middle of the pond, aviarium, and food stalls. At the foot of the hill near the aviarium stands the statue of King Rama V. There is a Brahman shrine at the hilltop. And at the southern foothill near the Boy Scout camp stands the jade statue of Guanyin (กวนอิม Kuan-im), the Chinese Goddess. The park covers rather vast area with several attractions far apart. Walking between places is not recommended unless you have a full day and stamina to do lots of walking up and down hills. The road in some spots can be pretty steep and winding as well.

Hat Yai Cable Car. There are two stations: one at Phra Buddha Mongkol Maharaj (พระพุทธมงคลมหาราช) and the other at Thao Maha Phrom (ท้าวมหาพรหม). The second phase will add two more stations at the playground and Guanyin statue, connecting four stations altogether. There is also a tram service running between the cable car station and the Hat Yai Ice Dome during 10:00-17:00 for 50 baht. A one-way cable car ride takes only a few minutes.

Hat Yai Lantern Festival. mid-15 Dec through April.

Hat Yai Observatory. Hat Yai's deep sky observatory.

Khlong Hae Floating Market. The first floating market in south Thailand. Sells mainly local foods.

Sino-Portuguese Townhouses. These old Peranakan-inspired houses have been re-painted in vivid colours.

Songkhla Central Mosque. This beautiful grand mosque is 400 m off the road from Hat Yai to Songkhla.

Stainless Steel Pagoda. This unique pagoda was made of stainless steel to celebrate King Bhumibol Adulyadej's 60th year on the throne.

Wat Hat Yai Nai. The temple is the site of a large reclining Buddha measuring 35m long, 15m tall, and 10m wide, named Phra Phuttha Hattha Mongkhon, believed to be the third-largest reclining Buddha in the world, and revered by both Thai and foreign tourists.

Khao Nam Khang National Park. The park has two waterfalls: Ton Dat Fa and Ton Lat Fa.

Khao Nam Khang Historic Tunnel. This large, long man-made tunnel was once inhabited by Communist insurgents. It is three levels deep and contains several rooms. Entry fee for foreigners is 150 baht.

Khu Khut Waterfowl Park. You can hire a boat for birdwatching (200 baht/hr) and have a pleasant meal at the restaurants beside the serene lake. The best time to visit is during Dec-Mar.

Thale Noi Waterfowl Reserve. Home to staggering 287 bird species. The best time for bird watching and seeing a sea of blooming pink water lilies is during Jan-Apr. Go early in the morning to avoid strong sun.

Ton Nga Chang Waterfall. The waterfall is in the Ton Nga Chang Wildlife Sanctuary. It is one of the beautiful waterfalls in the south, about 26 km from the city. This waterfall has seven levels. The third level is the most beautiful and is named after the waterfall. At the third level the stream separates into two, resembling an elephant's tusks. One can hire a tuk-tuk to the waterfall for two to three hours at 300-400 baht, or one can take the minibus from the fresh market (ตลาดสดเทศบาลหาดใหญ่ Talat Sot Thesaban Hat Yai).

Chinese New Year. Usually fall in Jan or Feb depending on the Chinese calendar. With a sizeable Thai-Chinese population, Chinese New Year is celebrated everywhere in Hat Yai especially in the city center. The Chinese New Year is on 5 Feb 2019.

Hat Yai Midnight Songkran. The festival marks Thai New Year, which is traditionally celebrated during 13-15 Apr. The most prominent part of the festival is blessing people with sprinkles of water. As you can guess, this devolves into massive water fights. The main activities are held near/around Odean Shopping Mall and Lee Garden Plaza, including foam party, free concert, and Songkran beauty contest.

Hat Yai Vegetarian Festival. A yearly event held during the ninth month of the Chinese calendar (usually in October). Observed mostly by Chinese and, increasingly, some Thais.

Loi Krathong. Festival to pay respect to the river by floating beautifully decorated krathong (กระทง). It usually incorporates a Nang Noppamas (นางนพมาศ) beauty competition where contestants dress in Thai traditional costume. The festival is held on the full moon night of the twelfth lunar month.

Tham Bun Duean Sip. A Southern Thai tradition held in/around October (the full-moon day of the tenth lunar month). The main purpose is to make merit for their ancestors. There are specific foods made for this. Business may close for the day.

Do

Cinema. Movie tickets in Thailand are more affordable than in Western countries. There are multiplexes and an IMAX theatre at Hatyai Cineplex on 5F of CentralFestival. The other venue is at Diana Cineplex on 5F of Diana.

Thai Massage. No trip to Thailand would be complete without a Thai massage and Hat Yai is one of the best places to get one. Some of the many good places would be Garden Home Hotel or Hat Yai Central Hotel. The rooms are nicely decorated and provide a soothing environment to go with a good massage. Ask the doorman at any good hotel for a recommendation if you want to avoid the more dodgy places.

Learn

Mahapanya Vidayalai. An international non-profit Buddhist college. Offer a curriculum of Bachelor of Arts in Buddhism, major in Mahayana Studies.

Prince of Songkla University. One of the top universities of Thailand. Offer many international courses at undergraduate, masters, and PhD level.

Buy

There are many Thai banks around the city, as well as Chinese money changers.

ATMs are abundant in Hat Yai, although most of them, as everywhere in Thailand, charge a 220-baht fee for foreign card transactions. Western Union can be found at Central Department Store's underground floor and on the 3rd fl. of CentralFestival.

Minimarts such as 7-Eleven are ubiquitous and open 24 hours. Or head to Tops Market for more high-end groceries at Robinson Department Store, Central Department Store, or CentralFestival.

A variety of English-language books (travel guides, fiction, children's, cookery, Thailand interest) can be purchased at the Asia Books shop inside the B2S on the second floor of CentralFestival.

ASEAN Trade Market. Wide market famous for second-hand designer clothing, bags, and shoes, but interesting locally-designed new clothes and some vintage decorative stuff can be found here as well. Lots of food stalls inside.

Green Way Market. Very similar to ASEAN Market.

Kim Yong Market. This is the most attractive place for shopping. There are plenty of foods, home appliances, chocolates, cosmetics, watches, CD games.

Suntisuk Market. The famous market sells electric appliances, gadgets, gaming consoles, IT devices and accessories, clothes, shoes, bags, cosmetics, imported food.

Big C Extra. Has HomePro, Office Depot, and several restaurants.

Central Hatyai. It's one of the largest shopping complexes outside Bangkok. You can find fashion clothes, many restaurants and cafes (including After You Dessert Cafe), Hatyai Cineplex with 10 cinemas, bowling alley, karaoke, all major banks, Tops Market, IT and electronics, telco service centers, and more.

Diana Complex Shopping Center. Clothes, mobile phones, restaurants, multiplex.

Go Wholesale. Newly opened cash-and-carry in the same vein as Makro.

Hatyai Village. Community mall. Petrol station, Starbucks, KFC, Burger King, Swensen's, food court, Uniqlo, Mr.DIY, Tops Supermarket, Lotus's Go Fresh, etc.

Lee Gardens Plaza. The most popular mall for Thai teenagers. Restaurants include Sizzler, Swensen's, McDonald's, and Fuji among others. Shops inside sell books, clothes, mobile phones, and souvenirs. There is a multiplex cinema and a games complex which also includes karaoke booths.

Odean Shopping Mall. Mostly clothes.

Siam Nakarin Complex. Office supplies, furniture, restaurants, food court, IT/mobile phones, and other small shops.

Tesco Lotus Hat Yai 1. A large supermarket that sells food, clothes, household items. There are also restaurants and smaller shops just outside the main supermarket.

Eat

Although not in the same league as Bangkok, there are a lot of different food options on offer in Hat Yai. Typical Thai street food is abundant. Big international chain restaurants have branches in town offering Japanese and Western food.

Restaurant chains are located mostly in shopping malls. International restaurant chains such as KFC, McDonald's, Sizzler, Pizza Hut, Dunkin' Donuts, Mister Donut, Swensen's, Dairy Queen, Starbucks. Local restaurant chains such as MK Restaurant (Thai-style sukiyaki), S&P, Chester's Grill, The Pizza Company, Fuji Restaurant, Shabushi , Oishi Ramen. Most shopping malls also have food courts.

Owing to the city's ethnic diversity, you can find Thai, Chinese, and Malay (Muslim) food. Most restaurants offer a variety of Thai, Chinese and/or Western fusion cuisine. There is a large resident Muslim population so finding halal food isn't a problem.

Ethnic Chinese from Malaysia and Singapore make up the bulk of Hat Yai's tourists so many restaurants and hotels cater primarily to them. Just opposite Lee Gardens (next to the Regency Hotel) you will see a restaurant which spit-roasts suckling pigs every day. Large, open-air seafood restaurants are also popular with Chinese visitors and the quality of seafood available in Hat Yai is good. Some Chinese are vegetarians and the town has a good selection of small vegetarian restaurants that offer tofu and soy meat substitutes.

Food hawkers can be found all over the city. Some stay open until very late at night. A spot for a variety of night hawkers is at Suphasarnrangsan Rd around Wat Cheu Chang near Kim Yong Market. Other places are such as at Tanrattanakorn Rd called Talad Mai (ตลาดใหม่) and at Thung Sao 1 Rd. There are also a number of small roadside places to eat on Nipha Phakdi alley behind the Florida hotel.

Hat Yai is famous for a simple-looking local version of fried chicken, eaten with sticky rice and sweet chili sauce. You will find plenty of vendors selling it in the city. People in Bangkok or other regions of Thailand simply call it Hat Yai fried chicken.

A typical meal for one can start at as low as 50 baht for street food, 80 baht in general restaurants, and 120 baht in more upscale restaurants.

Chok Dee Tae Tiam. One of the most famous dim sum restaurants in Hat Yai. The restaurant fills up fast, so go early to ensure a table. If you order bak kut teh, you'll get refilled constantly.

Khor Nang Tae Tiam. Another dim sum restaurant famously known by locals.

Bang Farang Restaurant. Nice small cosy restaurant at a walking distance from the bus station, ASEAN Market, or Green Way market. Halal, genuine Thai food (spicy, not sweet Malay cuisine). Excellent kaeng som. Serves fresh fruit juices and coffee. Free Wi-Fi for patrons. The cook/owner is married to a Muslim Frenchman. You can usually meet him on Saturdays.

Decha Fried Chicken. Muslim fried chicken restaurant. Also serve seafood, Thai, Isaan food.

Cha-Chak Forseen. Its extensive menu includes grilled chicken/salmon steak, beef skewers, murtabak, savory/sweet roti, teh tarik, shaved ice, etc.

Hamid Restaurant. Nice, clean, and good halal food. There are a couple of other Muslim restaurants nearby.

Namaste Hatyai. Indian-Thai restaurant. Chicken biryani/murtabak, roti/chapati, lassi, and more. (No pork or beef served.) Free Wi-Fi.

Japanese / Korean There are lots of Japanese restaurants on the 4th floor of CentralFestival.

Marichan Japanese Restaurant. Authentic Japanese food by Japanese chef.

Seoul Korean BBQ Restaurant. Korean barbecue all-you-can-eat buffet including drinks and ice-creams.

33 Buffet Restaurant. The hotel has a top floor restaurant with panoramic views of the city. It offers an excellent all-you-can-eat buffet at lunch and dinner.

192 Rat Na. Good Chinese food served here and very busy but worth waiting for some good fried stuff. Fried rice a specialty.

Bon Khao Restaurant. Good Thai food and great view looking onto Hat Yai.

Chongkhao Seafood. Large seafood restaurant.

Daothiam. Friendly staff and tasty breakfasts, Thai, and vegetarian food. Grab a pad Thai and Chang beer among a collection of framed world currency.

Nai Roo Restaurant. This hidden gem of a small Thai-Chinese restaurant may fill up quickly during meal time. Try fried popiah, tom yam omelette, fish dishes.

Nakorn Nai. A stylish restaurant with free Wi-Fi. They serve very tasty Western food such as pasta and pizza, Thai food, and Muslim food such as roti for reasonable prices.

Samila Sea Sport. Serves delicious seafood.

Ta-kun. If you're looking for cheap and good local food, try this small and very friendly little spot.

Tor Huad Restaurant. Upscale Chinese restaurant.

Thong Poon. One of a few Vietnamese restaurants in Hat Yai.

Dé Van Cuisine Coffee & Bistro. Italian cuisine.

Gäp's Garten German Restaurant. Serves authentic German food and beer (Erdinger, Warsteiner, Weihenstephan, and Köstritzer) for reasonable prices. Best to book a table in advance as it is usually quite full.

Drink

Thamanoonvithee Road is the main nightlife district. Hat Yai has a sordid reputation for prostitution, mostly targeting visitors crossing the border from Malaysia, and most women in the bars around here are on the take. The industry keeps a pretty low profile and there are no Bangkok-style go go bars.

Bee Club. Live music, pool upstairs and decent food.

Co Art. A cafe-style place to hang-out in the evenings. There is a live band almost every day covering internationally-known songs.

Deep Wonder. Street side and downstairs bar. Live music.

Living Room. At the site of the now-defunct Monkey Club. It's a nice place with fairly quiet atmosphere, and no longer a nightclub.

Oceania. A beautiful open-air restaurant and bar set on 2 floors with a landscaped garden of waterfalls and palms, and soft lighting. The kitchen is open until well after 02:00, serving decent Thai food at around 100 baht a dish. A large Heineken is 90 baht, with draft available also. The theme is quiet and romantic, ideal after an hour or two in the disco nearby. Live acoustic music is inflicted on diners every night until 24:00.

Post Laser Disc. Air-conditioned and pool. Best band in town playing from 21:00 onwards. Farang hangout.

Sunrise Coffee. A nice little coffee shop offering a variety of coffee blends and smoothies; very cosy atmosphere.

The Swan. Nice atmosphere with books and 2 TVs with UBC cable. A slight British pub feel.

The West Side Saloon. Can get crowded and very noisy. They have a good bar food menu. The only pub/bar in town that writes the prices on the menu excluding service charge and VAT. Can be a surprise when you get the bill.

Sleep

Hat Yai has an abundance of accommodation. Tourism in Hat Yai consists mainly of the weekend trade from Malaysia and Singapore. Accommodation can be found very easily mid-week but hotels in the centre of town tend to get booked up for the weekends and Malaysian and Singaporean public holidays. In the budget hotel you may well be asked if you want company. A shake of the head is all that is needed (up or down or from side-to-side is up to you). Don't be put off by the hotel because of it.

Hatyai Genting Hotel. Airy hotel in a good location. 495 baht for a spacious room with queen bed, 570 baht for a room with two beds. Clean; free Wi-Fi; TV and big fridge; air-con; hot water. Some decent local food places to eat over the road. A long stroll or short ride to the city centre or the bus station. Cheap massages available. Not much English spoken. Gym downstairs: 30 baht/day or 600 baht/month, or 450 baht/month for restricted memberships (morning or afternoon only).

Indra Hotel. Nice inexpensive place to stay near market and transportation (bus agents). Strongly recommend you see room before booking.

Louise Guesthouse. Big rooms and European toilets. Staff friendliness appears to fluctuate. Bedbugs reported and mattresses old and sagging.

Golden Crown Plaza Hotel. The standard rooms are very nice and comfortable.

Grand Pink Hotel. Clean and inviting. The rooms are distinguished by their huge bathtubs, presumably for two. On the premises is a large room with selection of masseuses on offer.

King's Hotel. Cable TV with English channels, hot shower, double bed. Free Wi-Fi access in the hotel lobby and rooms. The hotel badly needs a fire escape.

New Season Hotel. Deluxe hotel in the heart of Hat Yai. 112 deluxe rooms and 7 junior suites, including non-smoking floors, with panoramic view of the city and mountain. Every room has Internet access, touch memory door locking system, smoke detector, safety deposit box, minibar, and TV. 24 hour surveillance and car park. On-site there is a Thai massage with 17 luxurious rooms and a coffee shop serving a variety of cuisines: Thai, Western, and Chinese.

Siam City Hotel. Decent city views. Mini fridge. Feels 30 years old. No English TV channels.

Tune Hotel. Add-ons including air-con, towel, toiletries, cable TV, and Wi-Fi have to be purchased separately.

Winstar Hotel. A standard hotel designed and decorated in Chinese modern style. Wi-Fi, air-con, hot shower, minibar and TV with cable channels. Fountain Beer Park, Lim Breng Restaurant, Star Coffee Shop, and Thai ancient massage.

Asian Hotel. Basic facilities. One of the older bigger hotels from several decades back.

President Hotel. Pretty large rooms, air-con, free Wi-Fi, TV, and OK room service.