Hat Yai



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.

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 spoken by some younger 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

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

By plane



 * Taxis to the city can be found at the airport entrance. Drivers will ask around 250 baht. You also can use the airport limo service which costs 300 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. The staff of the limo/minibus booth will exchange ringgits or US dollars for you (or accept them for their service), but at a disadvantageous exchange rate.


 * Domestic flights: There are daily flights from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport by Thai Airways (operated by Thai Smile) and Thai VietJet. Hat Yai is also connected daily to Bangkok's Don Mueang Airport , by Nok Air, Thai AirAsia and Thai Lion Air. Thai AirAsia flies from Chiang Mai  and Kuala Lumpur . Thai Lion Air flies from Udon Thani . Bangkok Airways has a route from Phuket.


 * International flights: AirAsia operates daily flights from Kuala Lumpur . Scoot operates services from Singapore.

By train

 * 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.
 * 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. A ticket for the 2nd class fan upper sleeper on the Rapid trains cost 605 baht. Upper sleeper beds are always slightly cheaper because they do not have a window. The 2nd class air-conditioned sleeper costs 825/1105 baht (upper/lower), 1st class air-conditioned sleeper costs 1794 baht. 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. Travel time is 4-5 hours including waiting time at the border and costs less than US$5 (200 baht or RM20) in total.

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. Travel time is one hour 51 minutes and costs RM11.40 (approx 90 baht) for the 158 kilometres to Butterworth. 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 journey takes about 1 hour and costs 80 baht. 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). This train is only with second class A/C berth and costs 960/760 baht lower/upper berth. 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. It costs 43/50 baht and travel time is 1-1½ hour depending on traffic. 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.

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. 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.


 * 24 seat VIP bus (พิเศษ, phiset) costs 1,070 baht, departs from Bangkok at 17:00, 18:00, 19:00, and 20:00. For the return, the departure is at 16:00, 17:00, and 18:00.
 * 32 seat Class 1 bus (ม1พ) costs 828 baht, departs from Bangkok and Hat Yai at 17:30.
 * 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. Cost of ticket varies depending on company and time of departure. It's a 10-hour journey if you factor in waiting at immigration, a meal stop, and traffic when you arrive in Kuala Lumpur.








 * Penang: Scheduled air-conditioned minivans connect Hat Yai to Penang in Malaysia. There is no standard price, different agencies quote prices between 400 baht and 650 baht. Cathay Guesthouse, which is not far from train station, has probably the best rate set at 400 baht. 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.
 * Penang: Scheduled air-conditioned minivans connect Hat Yai to Penang in Malaysia. There is no standard price, different agencies quote prices between 400 baht and 650 baht. Cathay Guesthouse, which is not far from train station, has probably the best rate set at 400 baht. 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.


 * Minivans leave hourly during daylight on the full hour from Georgetown's Lebuh Chulia (Parking Lot of E & A Hotel) The fare is RM35-40, advance booking is recommended.


 * Ipoh: There is a daily bus from Ipoh at 12:30 going to Hat Yai, departing from the long-distance bus terminal. Cost: RM45.

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. Journey time is about one hour and the fare is 55 baht. 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: Regular local buses (43 baht) depart from Hat Yai centre in front of clock tower, and minivans (50 baht) depart from Hat Yai's bus terminal for Padang Besar (only to the Thai side). Journey time is about 1½ hour. If you are crossing to Malaysia immediately, ask to be dropped off right at the gates of the Thai immigration complex before your enter town. If you are coming out from the immigration complex, just cross the road and wait for a bus or minivan beside the pedestrian overpass. Ignore touts insisting to take you to the bus stop in the town centre for 100 baht or so. Red local bus heading to the Hat Yai centre will stop at bus terminal and train station (but not on the other way leaving from Hat Yai centre).
 * 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. The cost is 900 baht leaving from Davis Tour in Hat Yai. However you can buy the ticket at easybook.com and redbus.my for MR85 (cheaper than in Davis Tour).

Get around
The city centre itself is quite compact and covers three parallel roads: Nipatuthit (นิพัทธ์อุทิศ) 1, 2 and 3 Rd, colloquially called Soi Nueng (ซอยหนี่ง, lit. "road one"), Soi Song (ซอยสอง, lit. "road two") and Soi Saam (ซอยสาม, lit. "road three"). It is practical to get around on foot, but getting to most attractions will require some kind of transportation.

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. A ride within the city costs 20-60 baht. 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 conditioner 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. Just like elsewhere in Thailand, they have fixed routes and fares, and can be stopped at any point along the route by pressing the buzzer. 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. 10 baht flat rate.
 * 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). 10 baht flat rate.

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
















Outside the city






Learn




Buy
There are many Thai banks around the city, as well as Chinese money changers. Exchange rates from the latter for Malaysian ringgits may be significantly better than in the banks.

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. Good for a quick meal, stocking up food and personal items. 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 Asia Books shop inside the B2S on the second floor of CentralFestival.

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, Black Canyon Coffee, Chester's Grill, The Pizza Company, Fuji Restaurant, Shabushi, Oishi Ramen. Food courts are also available in most of the shopping malls.

Owing to the ethnic diversity, you can find Thai, Chinese, and Malay (Muslim) food available throughout the city. Most restaurants offer a variety of Thai, Chinese and/or Western fusion cuisine.

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.

There is a large resident Muslim population and some visitors from Malaysia are also Muslim so finding halal food isn't a problem.

Food hawkers can be found all over the city. Some stay open until very late at night. Grabbing a bite in late night is not uncommon. 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.

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.

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



Sleep
Travel agents around town can nearly always give better rates for hotel rooms compared to dealing directly with the hotel. 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.

Stay safe
A series of bombings from 2006 to 2012 that specifically targeted restaurants and shopping centres popular with visitors (and locals) killed two tourists. Strict security measures (bag searches, metal detectors) are to be expected in most gathering places. As of October 2022 the town is no more dangerous than any other major city in Thailand.

To check water level during monsoon season, visit Hatyai City Climate. For air quality, visit Air4Thai.

Telephone
Hat Yai's area code is 074. To make a call to anywhere in Thailand, always add a preceding "0" to the fixed line/mobile number. For example, +66 74 123456 will be dialled locally as 074 123456.

The major telephone service providers are AIS, DTAC, and TrueMove. Thai prepaid SIM cards can be purchased in minimarts, mobile retailer shops, or telco service centers, all of which can be found on CentralFestival's 3rd floor. Domestic calls usually cost only about 1 baht/min depending on your prepaid plan.

Cope
The Chinese, Indonesian, and Malaysian consulates are in Mueang Songkhla, the capital district of Songkhla Province, 35 km from Hat Yai.

Go next

 * Bangkok - Thailand's bustling and vibrant capital city.
 * Chiang Mai - an artistic and cultural city in Northern Thailand; there are direct flights to Chiang Mai from Thai AirAsia.
 * Ko Lipe - There are 5 combined bus & speedboat services per day from Hat Yai Railway Station
 * Ko Tarutao - One combined bus and boat service each day leaves Hat Yai Railway Station for Pak Bara pier where a speedboat will take you to Ko Tarutao.
 * Ko Samui - Bangkok Airways used to fly direct: but Phantip travel runs a bus to Don Sak pier where ferries to the island can be boarded. Even though this bus takes 5 hours, it is quicker than flying to Bangkok and flying to Ko Samui from there.
 * Krabi - for beautiful islands such as Ko Lanta and Ko Phi Phi.
 * Phuket - world-renowned white sandy beaches and resorts. Direct flights available with Bangkok Airways.
 * Satun - for the ferry to Langkawi
 * Songkhla - a relaxed old seaside city only 35 km away with the famous mermaid statue. Recommended for a day trip for sightseeing, museums, beaches and excellent seafood. The Transport Company and minibuses ply this route.
 * Trang - for ferries to Ko Muk. Sri Trang Tour runs buses to Trang town for 254 baht. There are 3 departures per day and a travel time of 2 hours 15 minutes. Hat Yao ferry terminal is an hour outside Trang.

Border crossings

 * Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia's capital city. Take a short train ride to Padang Besar (1 hr), then switch to ETS high-speed train to KL (5-5.5 hr).
 * Langkawi - a beautiful duty-free island; can be reached via ferry from Satun.
 * Penang - visit Georgetown, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A food paradise. The easiest way to reach Georgetown is by mini-van, but you can also use a combination of bus, train, and ferry. Mini-vans depart from 29 Prachathipat Road in Hat Yai and takes around 4 hours.

Visa run
If you need to extend your stay in Thailand for another 15 days, you can cross the border at Dannok, near Sadao. Getting there from the airport is easy and takes about 2 hours. From the terminal, walk straight out into the parking lot to the parking lot ring road. You can wait here for a light blue songthaew to take you into town and get dropped off at The Plaza for 13 baht. The ride takes about 20-30 minutes. You can also take an airport taxi into town. At The Plaza, you can find a van waiting just across from the TOT office, which makes regular trips to Dannok. If you can't find it, just say "Sadao" or "Dannok" to people till they point you the right way. The trip is 60 baht, and vans leave once they are full. The trip should take about 1 hour 30 minutes. It will drop you off near the border at Dannok and you can just walk to exit Thailand. You will be approached by motorcycle drivers who will offer to take you to the Malaysian side. Walking takes about 10 minutes, so it could be worth it to pay 20 baht each way if you are in a hurry. If you have time, a stop at the duty-free shop is worthwhile. Minivans returning to Hat Yai depart from outside the 7-Eleven in Dannok. Back-to back stamps are only allowed for a total stay of 90 days within any given 180 day period of time.