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Hatyai

Hat Yai (frequently spelled Had Yai) is the largest city in southern Thailand, located near the border of Malaysia and populated by nearly 800,000 Thais. Hat Yai is located in Songkhla Province and, while not the provincial capital, is home to The Prince of Songkhla University, making it Southern Thailands educational center as well as the souths heart of transportation, commerce, and tourism.

Among other things, Hat Yai is renowned for its outstanding seafood, which is served in various styles thanks to Hat Yais diverse population of Chinese, Malays, and Thais. Hat Yai also features a multitude of markets, both local and international in style, and has a festive nightlife, including pubs and discos that are particularly popular with tourists from neighboring Malaysia.

While there have been occasional violent attacks from regional terror groups, Hat Yai is a relatively safe city to visit, particularly if one avoids the most crowded tourist venues and enjoys the local flavor of the city and the culture of its diverse inhabitants.


The populous city of Hat Yai, the largest in Songkhla Province, is Southern Thailands commercial, shopping, and entertainment center. Hat Yai is located roughly 950 km (600 miles) from Bangkok and just 30 km (18.5 miles) from the Malaysian border. Consequently it is a popular destination for visitors from Malaysia, who enjoy dining on seafood and experiencing Hat Yais lively nightlife.

Regional attractions include Songkhla Lake (the largest in Thailand), an enormous reclining Buddha that visitors can walk inside, the Bhasawang Big Splash (a 15 meter long water slide), and the regions most popular spectator sport, bullfighting.

Transport

Hat Yai is the primary transport hub of southern Thailand and therefore features a variety of transportation options for getting around the region and for traveling north into greater Thailand or south into Malaysia. Getting around town or to sights throughout Songkhla Province is equally easy to arrange.

Getting to and from Hat Yai

  • By Train:
    The Hat Yai train station serves as a major stopping point along the route from Bangkok to Butterworth, Malaysia. From Hat Yai it is possible to travel by train through Malaysia and into Singapore or up to Bangkok and onwards to Nong Khai or Chiang Mai.

  • By Bus:
    Hat Yai is a major hub for both public and private busses, servicing busses from Malaysia and Singapore to the south and most destinations within Thailand to the north.
  • By Air:
    Hat Yai international airport is one of the busiest in Thailand and is serviced by both Thai Airways and a number of budget air carriers, including Thai AirAsia. There are numerous daily flights from Bangkoks Suvarnabhumi Airport to Hat Yai International Airport.
  • By Other:


    By Minivan and Taxi
    Minivans and share taxis are also available to and from Hat Yai and nearly all cities in provinces around the south, as well as more distant destinations to the north, though minivans depart from different areas of the city depending on destination and are not necessarily the most comfortable way to travel. Taxis are more flexible but cost considerably more as drivers must pay for fuel to return to Hat Yai.

Getting Around Hat Yai


By Tuk Tuk or Motorbike-taxi:
Getting around Hat Yai is not difficult, as the city contains numerous tuk tuks and motorbike taxis. While rates for these are somewhat fixed for locals, rates are considerably higher for foreigners, who should agree upon a price with drivers prior to travel.

By Songtaew:
Songtaews, pickup trucks with cushioned benches in the back, are more likely to offer similar rates to visitors as to locals but follow fixed routes. If you are willing to get a little lost while exploring Hat Yai or know your way around town already, songtaews are arguably the best way to get around Hat Yai.

By Rental Car:
There are numerous rental car companies if you wish to explore the area on your own, and its even possible to rent a car with a driver to save you the hassle of figuring out how to reach Hat Yais attractions, most of which are located outside of the city center.

When renting a car, be aware that only Commercial First Class Insurance provides full coverage (as opposed to limited personal or third party only insurance). Most international car rental agencies will offer this insurance (some only for those with a valid international drivers license) while local companies may or may not. You may wish to request a copy of their insurance policy and ensure that it states "For Commercial Use". Regardless, inspect rental vehicles prior to rental and drive with caution, particularly as traffic in Thailand can be quite confusing, especially the habit of Thai motorcycles drivers to drive on the wrong side of the road.

Airport Transfer:
To get to and from the airport, there is an Airport Taxi Service (0 7423 8452) that departs from the Thai Airways office on Niphat Uthit 1 Road. From the airport, the Airport Taxi Service offers hotel drop-off. Otherwise, private taxis charge around 200 baht in either direction.


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