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Municipality in Songkhla, Thailand
Photo: Rukterna at Thai Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
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.
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สวนสาธารณะเทศบาลเมืองหาดใหญ่
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.
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.
mid-15 Dec through April.
Hat Yai's deep sky observatory.
ตลาดน้ำคลองแห
The first floating market in south Thailand. Sells mainly local foods.
These old Peranakan-inspired houses have been re-painted in vivid colours.
มัสยิดกลางประจำจังหวัดสงขลา
This beautiful grand mosque is 400 m off the road from Hat Yai to Songkhla.
พระมหาธาตุเจดีย์ไตรภพไตรมงคล Phra Maha Chedi Traipob Traimongkhon
This unique pagoda was made of stainless steel to celebrate King Bhumibol Adulyadej's 60th year on the throne.
วัดหาดใหญ่ใน
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.
อุทยานแห่งชาติเขาน้ำค้าง
The park has two waterfalls: Ton Dat Fa and Ton Lat Fa.
อุโมงค์ประวัติศาสตร์เขาน้ำค้าง
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.
อุทยานนกน้ำคูขุด
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.
เขตห้ามล่าสัตว์ป่าทะเลน้อย
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. A boat ride costs 500 baht and takes about 1½ hr.
น้ำตกโตนงาช้าง
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).
เทศกาลตรุษจีน
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.
เทศกาลสงกรานต์หาดใหญ่
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.
เทศกาลกินเจหาดใหญ่; Nine Emperor Gods Festival
A yearly event held during the ninth month of the Chinese calendar (usually in October). Observed mostly by Chinese and, increasingly, some Thais.
วันลอยกระทง
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.
เทศกาลทำบุญเดือนสิบ
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.
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.
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.
โชคดีแต่เตี้ยม
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.
คอหนังแต่เตี้ยม
Another dim sum restaurant famously known by locals.
ร้านอาหารบังฝรั่ง
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.
ไก่ทอดเดชา
Muslim fried chicken restaurant. Also serve seafood, Thai, Isaan food.
ชาชักฟอร์ซีน
Its extensive menu includes grilled chicken/salmon steak, beef skewers, murtabak, savory/sweet roti, teh tarik, shaved ice, etc.
Nice, clean, and good halal food. There are a couple of other Muslim restaurants nearby.
Indian-Thai restaurant. Chicken biryani/murtabak, roti/chapati, lassi, and more. (No pork or beef served.) Free Wi-Fi.
ร้านอาหารญี่ปุ่น มะลิจัง
Authentic Japanese food by Japanese chef.
Korean barbecue all-you-can-eat buffet including drinks and ice-creams.
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 ราดหน้า อาหารตามสั่ง
Good Chinese food served here and very busy but worth waiting for some good fried stuff. Fried rice a specialty.
บนเขา
Good Thai food and great view looking onto Hat Yai.
ช่องเขาซีฟู้ดส์
Large seafood restaurant.
ดาวเทียม
Friendly staff and tasty breakfasts, Thai, and vegetarian food. Grab a pad Thai and Chang beer among a collection of framed world currency.
ร้านอาหารในรู
This hidden gem of a small Thai-Chinese restaurant may fill up quickly during meal time. Try fried popiah, tom yam omelette, fish dishes.
นครใน
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.
สมิหลาซีสปอร์ต
Serves delicious seafood.
Tasty Thai food.
ร้านตา-ขุน
If you're looking for cheap and good local food, try this small and very friendly little spot.
ภัตตาคารต่อฮวด
Upscale Chinese restaurant.
ทองพูน
One of a few Vietnamese restaurants in Hat Yai.
Italian cuisine.
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.
Live music, pool upstairs and decent food.
A cafe-style place to hang-out in the evenings. There is a live band almost every day covering internationally-known songs.
Street side and downstairs bar. Live music.
At the site of the now-defunct Monkey Club. It's a nice place with fairly quiet atmosphere, and no longer a nightclub.
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.
Air-conditioned and pool. Best band in town playing from 21:00 onwards. Farang hangout.
หอมกลิ่นกาแฟ
A nice little coffee shop offering a variety of coffee blends and smoothies; very cosy atmosphere.
Nice atmosphere with books and 2 TVs with UBC cable. A slight British pub feel.
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.
Airy hotel in a good location. Better than most hotels this price. 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).
Nice inexpensive place to stay near market and transportation (bus agents). Strongly recommend you see room before booking.
Big rooms and European toilets. Staff friendliness appears to fluctuate. Bedbugs reported and mattresses old and sagging.
The standard rooms are very nice and comfortable.
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.
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.
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.
Decent city views. Mini fridge. Feels 30 years old. No English TV channels.
Add-ons including air-con, towel, toiletries, cable TV, and Wi-Fi have to be purchased separately.
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.
Basic facilities. One of the older bigger hotels from several decades back.
Pretty large rooms, air-con, free Wi-Fi, TV, and OK room service.
ตลาดเปิดท้าย Talat Poet Tai
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.
ตลาดกรีนเวย์
Very similar to ASEAN Market.
ตลาดกิมหยง
This is the most attractive place for shopping. There are plenty of foods, home appliances, chocolates, cosmetics, watches, CD games.
สันติสุข
The famous market sells electric appliances, gadgets, gaming consoles, IT devices and accessories, clothes, shoes, bags, cosmetics, imported food.
Formerly Carrefour
Has HomePro, Office Depot, and several restaurants.
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.
Clothes, mobile phones, restaurants, multiplex.
Newly opened cash-and-carry in the same vein as Makro.
Community mall. Petrol station, Starbucks, KFC, Burger King, Swensen's, food court, Uniqlo, Mr.DIY, Tops Supermarket, Lotus's Go Fresh, etc.
Home improvement.
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.
Cash & carry wholesale.
Mostly clothes.
Office supplies, furniture, restaurants, food court, IT/mobile phones, and other small shops.
A large supermarket that sells food, clothes, household items. There are also restaurants and smaller shops just outside the main supermarket.
ไทวัสดุ
Home improvement.
By train
KTMB (Malaysian Railways) operates Komuter trains between Padang Besar and Butterworth, and ETS trains further south to Kuala Lumpur to Gemas.
By car
Many Malaysians and Singaporeans drive to Hat Yai in their own vehicles. Like Malaysia and Singapore, Thailand drives on the left.
By bus and minivan
Buses go to all major towns in south Thailand and up to Bangkok. Depending on the route, different classes of bus are available.
By tuk-tuk or motorbike taxi
Tuk-tuks and motorbike taxis are abundant in Hat Yai. Fares should be negotiated beforehand and often can be overpriced, so haggle if possible. They are available from any hotel.
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.
By songthaew
A Songthaew (สองแถว, lit. "two rows") is a modified light truck where passengers sit on benches in the covered tray area.
By car or motorbike
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Hat Yai · International · HDY
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