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From Wikitravel

Hat Yai (หาดใหญ่; also Had Yai, Haad Yai) is the fourth largest city in Thailand and is located at the Southern Gulf Coast.

[edit] Get in

[edit] By plane

[edit] Airport

Hat Yai International Airport [1] (HDY)

Taxi rides to Hat Yai city can be found at the airport entrance for which the drivers will ask around 250 baht,you also can use the airport limo service which costs 300 baht. A minivan service into the city costs 150 baht. A blue colored songthaew runs into town for 20 baht and can be found at the far end of the parking lot. From Phet Kasem road, there is a Highway No. 4135 (Sanambin Panij road) linking to the airport. Car rental is available on arrival from Avis.

[edit] Flights

There are daily flights to/from the new Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport on AirAsia and Thai Airways. Hat Yai is also connected daily to Don Mueang, Bangkok's former international airport, by Nok Air and One-Two-Go.

Tiger Airways operates the only international flight to the airport from Singapore three times a week.

[edit] By train

Hat Yai is on the southern line connecting Bangkok to Butterworth and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.

• To/from Bangkok: Five trains daily to and from Bangkok. Express trains depart at 16:16, 17:34 and 18:05 while the slower Rapid trains depart at 14:18 and 15:26. Trains go via Surat Thani, Chumphon, Hua Hin etc.

A 3rd class ticket with reserved, upholstered seat sets you back 259 Baht (Hat Yai-Bangkok) on ordinary trains and slightly more for Rapid/Express trains (June 2008). Buy tickets directly at the respective railway stations, surcharges are imposed if bought at other agencies!

• To/from Sungai Kolok: Two trains to Sungai Kolok daily departing at 05:36 and 07:18.

• To/from Malaysia: The State Railways of Thailand's [2] International Express leaves Hat Yai for Butterworth near Penang daily at 05:50, going via Padang Besar. In the other direction, trains leave Butterworth at 13:15 and arrive in Hat Yai at 17:30. The train then continues to Bangkok. The Senandung Langkawi operated by Keretapi Tanah Melayu (Malaysian Railways) [3] departs Hat Yai for Kuala Lumpur daily at 14:20, arriving at KL Sentral at 04:50 the next day. Trains from Kuala Lumpur depart at 20:45 and arrive in Hat Yai at 10:20 the next day. The Senandung Langkawi goes via Bukit Mertajam and Padang Besar. Please note that Malaysian time is one hour ahead of Thai time. If it is noon in Thailand, it is 13:00 in Malaysia.

• Surat Thani 3rd class ticket cost 55 baht(dec 07) but takes 7 hours!! Good for stunning views of the countryside. See timetable at railway station. Sleepercabins 1st class, 2nd class aircon & fan sleeperettes and 3rd class (now upholstered seats!) are available

[edit] By bus

Hat Yai has a large bus station located near the Diana Department store. Buses can be taken to all major towns in the south of Thailand and up to Bangkok. Depending on the route, different classes of bus are available. These range from local orange colored buses without air-conditioning to luxurious 24-seater coaches with toilets and reclining seats.

To/from Bangkok: Air-con buses by The Transport Co. Ltd (บริษัท ขนส่ง จำกัด (บขส.), bor-kor-sor) run between Bangkok southern bus terminal (สายใต้, sai-tai) and Hatyai bus terminal daily. The distance is ~954km and normally takes 12 hours.

• 24 seats VIP bus (พิเศษ, phiset) costs 1065B, departs from Bangkok at 1700, 1800, 1900 and 2000. On the reverse, the departure is at 1600, 1700 and 1800.
• 32 seats Class 1 B bus (ม1พ) costs 828B, departs from Bangkok and Hatyai at 1730.
• 47 seats Class 2 bus (ม2) departs from Bangkok at 0700, 1700 and 2145, Hatyai at 0800, 1530 and 1700 for 535B.

Other scheduled, interprovincial buses serving Hat Yai: Surat Thani, Phuket, Satun, Trang, Nakhon Si Thammarat

To/from Malaysia:

• Kuala Lumpur : Konsortium Bas Ekspress Semenanjung, 32, Prachathipat Road, Hat Yai Tel : +66 074 351280 and +66 074 351281 have 5 bus every day which leave Hat Yai to Kuala Lumpur, departure at 9:00 am, 9:30 am, 10:00am, noon and 7:00pm, ticket cost around 400 baht and it's a 7 hours journey.

• Penang: Scheduled airconditioned Minivans leave hourly in daylight time on the full hour from Georgetowns Lebuh Chulia (Parking Lot of E & A Hotel) The fare is presently set at 32 RM, advance booking is recommended. The journey including border formalities requires about 3 to 3 1/2 hours.

• Ipoh: There is a daily bus from Ipoh at 12.30am going to Hat Yai, departing from the long-distance bus terminal, at RM 45.

There are three border crossings to choose from, both are 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 7-11 store on the left side of the street after leaving the immigration complex. Note that the distance between the Thai and Malaysian immigration checkpoints is about 1km, quite a distance to walk in the heat. You can take a motorcycle taxi between the checkpoints.
• Padang Besar: Regular buses depart Hat Yai's bus terminal for Padang Besar (only to the Thai side). Journey time is about one 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.
• Sungai Kolok: A minibus run 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. THB180. When considering this option, please consult local advice on current security threats, many travel advices around the world consider it an area to avoid (according to a travel agent nothing has happened to this Minibus service in the last 4 years, as opposed to the Hat Yai-Sungai Kolok train. The threat is a sleepy driver and the numberous roaming cows on the street. December 09: Last issues )

To/from Singapore: The main terminal for buses to and from Thailand is at the Golden Mile Complex, 5001 Beach Rd. It's at the north-eastern end of Beach Rd, where it meets Crawford St; the Lavender MRT station is within walking distance A number of travel agents specializing in buses and tours to Thailand operate from there. Grassland Express (Tel: 6293 1166) has a bus at 7 pm to Hat Yai for S$55. Other operators at Golden Mile complex: Transtar Travel tel. 6299 9009, Sri Maju tel. 6293 4160, City Line Tour tel. 6396 6969, Konsortium tel. 6392 5000, Star Mart Express tel. 6396 5681/6396 5682, Five Star Tour tel. 6294 7011, Alisan tel. 6292 2112

Following not sure...: Morning Star Travel (Tel: 6299 2221) at the Lavender MRT station also has to Hat Yai at 2.30 pm for S$39. Hasry-Ekoba (Tel: 6292 6243) at the Malaysia bus station, on the corner of Lavender St. and Kallang Bahru, has VIP coaches to Hat Yai at 2.30 and 3.30 pm.....

[edit] By minivan

Minivans connect to and from all major locations in southern Thailand with 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.

[edit] Get around

[edit] Taxi

Taxi (Tuk-tuks and mototaxi) are abundant in Hat-Yai. They are available at any hotel. The ride inside the city costs 20-30 baht. Ask the girl at the reception to write down the Thai address for you and show it to the driver. Rides to places outside the town are negotiable. The shared taxi going outside of the town can be found at the old market.

[edit] Rent a Moto

Although there is no official motorbike rent, you can rent a used motorbike or a scooter in some shop. For example there is one at 47, Thanon Nipatuthit 1. The owner speaks English, he is a decent man, so better be careful with the motorbike otherwise he will stop renting them out. His tel +66-81-3287625. Normally he would require your passport as a deposit and 250 baht a day for a scooter.

[edit] Rent a Car

Rent a car is available at the airport at Avis

[edit][add listing] See

• Hat Yai Municipal Park (สวนสาธารณะเทศบาลเมืองหาดใหญ่), on Kanchanawanit Road, is six kilometers from the city center on the Hat Yai-Songkhla highway. It is the major recreation for the people of Hat Yai and surrounding areas as well. The park is full of beautiful flowering plants, with a pavilion in the middle of the pond, avarium, and food stalls. At the foot of the hill near the avarium 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 Guan-yin, the Chinese Goddess.

• Wat Hat Yai Nai (วัดหาดใหญ่ใน) on Phetkasem Road, near Khlong U Taphao Bridge, is the site of a large reclining Buddha measuring 35 meters long, 15 meters tall, and 10 meters wide, named Phra Phuttha Hattha Mongkhon, believed to be the third largest reclining Buddha in the world - revered by both Thai and foreign tourists.

• Ton Nga Chang Waterfall (น้ำตกโตนงาช้าง) is located in the Ton Nga Chang Wildlife Sanctuary. It is one of the beautiful waterfalls of the south, about 26 kilometers from the city. Follow the Hat Yai-Rattaphum road for 13 kilometers, then turn left at Ban Hu Rae for another 13 kilometers. 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 the elephant’s tusks. Treks have been provided for more adventurous tourists. 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 (Talat Sot Thet Sa Ban Hat Yai).

[edit][add listing] Do

• Visa Run - If you need to extend your stay in Thailand 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 airport 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 store in Dannok. Please keep in mind that back-to back stamps are only allowed for a total stay of 90 days within any given 180 day period of time!

60 Day Tourist Visa can be obtained in Penang, Kota Bharu and in Kuala Lumpur at the respective Thai Consulates/Embassy. In Penang 60 day tourist visas are free for all countries, since recently. Bring 2 photographs. A copy of passport main page is required - it is possible to get it in a high-school library nearby. To get there: take a bus no 1 from Komtar (1 RM) down Jalan Burma, after 10 minutes get off at the crossing with Cantonment road, turn left and walk down Cantonment Rd for 10 minutes and turn right to the Consulate. Opens 9am - 12 and you will have your Tourist Visa after 3.30pm. While waiting it's worth taking a bus ride to Batu Feringgi beach (2RM). You can also find Visa services in Little India and China town for about 20RM (will aslo be ready after 3.30pm). Cost 280TBH / 30RM oneway to George town (with mini bus) and usually lets you off in little india. There was return buses as late as 4pm (may 2009).

• Thai Massage - No trip to Thailand would be complete without a Thai massage and Hat Yai is one of the best places to get them. 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.

• Dentist Prince Songkhla University's faculty of dentistry offers very good & reasonably priced treatments!! But always put a few notes in the collection box. Government operated hospital, so expect to wait a while.

[edit][add listing] Buy

• Kim Yong market - Located at Supasarn rungsan road. This is the most attractive & famous place for shopping life. There are plenty of food, home electricity appliances, chocolate, beauty tools, watches, CD games etc.
• Suntisook Market. Place - Located at Nipat utid 1, 2 & 3 This is another famous place of hatyai which sell the products as same as Kim yong market.

• Lee Garden Plaza - The most popular mall for Thai teenagers. Restaurants include Sizzler, Swensens, McDonalds 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.

• Diana Shopping Mall - Clothes, mobile phones, restaurants and a bowling alley.

• Tesco Lotus - Located near the Prince of Songkhla University, a large supermarket that sells food, clothes, household items and lots more. There are also a number of restaurants and smaller shops just outside the main supermarket.

• Carrefour - Very similar to Tesco Lotus.

• Central Department Store - Probably Hat Yai's most upmarket store. Clothes, cosmetics, books, household goods and there is a TOPS food supermarket in the basement.

[edit][add listing] 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 almost everywhere. Big, international chain restaurants have branches in town offering Japanese and Western food. Ethnic Chinese from Malaysia and Singapore make up the bulk of Hat Yai's tourists so many restaurants and hotels cater primarily for 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. Behind Regency Hotel and Lee Garden Hotel is a Vermicillin Store with a Teochew speaking lady boss. The store opens from 10pm-6am. Its beside the street Thanon Duangchan. For those who likes to eat pork ribs soup or "Bak Kut Tea", you can find this place called "YA LUN ROU KU CHA" with telephone no. 01-6082829 There is also a large resident Muslim population and some visitors from Malaysia are also Muslim so finding Halal food isn't a problem. Across the street from Lee Garden hotel there are a couple of Muslim restaurants, Hamid restaurant is not too bad. Nice clean and good food. There are several small ones nearby. Certain Chinese are vegetarian and the town has a good selection of small vegetarian restaurants that offer tofu and soy meat substitutes.

• TOP'S SUPERMARKET under robinsons store close to rail station,,good food/good price!!pick & mix.

• Cha Nang (ชะนาง) 37/1 Niphat Songkhro 1 Road Tel: 0 7423 6311, 0 7423 0166
• Che Ka (เจ๊ะกา) 884-886 Kanchanawanit Road Tel: 0 7436 5264
• Che Lek (เจ๊เล็ก) 190/3-4 Niphat Uthit 2 Road Tel: 0 7424 4466, 0 7424 6710
• Hamid (ฮามิด) 85/2-3 Prachathipat Road Tel: 0 7424 6463
• Hi Wa Thian (ไหหว้าเทียน) 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27 Chaiyakun Uthit Soi 4 Road Tel: 0 7424 3011, 0 7422 1201
• Hong Yok (หงษ์หยก) 31/33-35 Chiwanuson Road Tel: 0 7424 5124-5
• Kan-eng (กันเอง) Niphat Uthit 3 Road Tel: 0 7424 6138
• Khaotom Nai Yao (ข้าวต้มนายยาว) Thammanunwithi Road Tel: 0 7424 6208
• Krathom Duean Phen (กระท่อมเดือนเพ็ญ) Thammanunwithi Road Tel: 0 7423 3160
• Mae Thip (แม่ทิพย์) 187-188 Niphat Uthit 3 Tel: 0 7424 4235, 0 7424 3369
• Mariya (มารียา) 169 Saeng Chan Road Tel: 0 7424 5194
• Phailin Steak House (ไพลินสเต็กเฮ้าส์) 18/3-4 Siphuwanat Road Tel: 0 7423 8562, 0 7423 3222
• Ruean Thai Mai Suai (เรือนไทยไม้สวย) 173 Niphat Uthit 3 Road Tel: 0 7424 3238, 0 7423 4190
• Sumatra (สุมาตรา) 55/1 Ratthakan Road Tel: 0 7424 6459, 0 7423 2747
• Sunday (ซันเดย์) 64 Chuti Anuson Road Tel: 0 7423 3650

[edit][add listing] Drink

The beer in Hat Yai is especially reasonable so enjoy a can of beer while you are there. More reasonably priced than what you pay at the outrageously overpriced Duty-Free Shops.

• Monkey Pub * 94 Thamanoonvithi Road 2nd floor - Night club for dancing, a drink and a general good time.
• Blue Kiss Ice Bar locate at Hoimook road.
• Oceania out of the city center, about 10 minutes by taxi from Lee Gardens and about 100m North of the Hansa Plaza/Paragaon night entertainment complex in Hat Yai 'nai' is Oceania, a beautiful open air restaurant and bar set on 2 floors with a landscaped garden of waterfalls and palms, and soft lighting to boot. The kitchen is open until well after 2am, 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 accompanies the diners every night until midnight. Oceania closes when the last customers leave at around 4am.

• Nakorn Nai - A stylish restaurant with free Internet access (WLAN). They serve very tasty western food (Pizza, Pasta, Beef Stroganoff, Breakfast) for reasonable prices.

• The Swan, on Thanon Thamnoon Vithi Rd, one block from The Pubb. Nice atmosphere with books and 2 TVs with UBC. Jack Coke - 60 baht. A slight British Pub feel.
• Brown Sugar, on Thanon Thamnoon Vithi Rd. just across the street from The Post Laser and similar in style, though it's smaller with a bit less ambiance.

• The Pubb - Live music, pool upstairs and decent food. Located downtown.

• The Post Laser Disc - Air-con and pool. Best band in town. Jack Coke 80 baht. Farang hangout. On Thanon Thamnoon Vithi Rd.

• Brass Monkey - Upstairs disco with pool table. Next to Brown Sugar.

• Deep Wonder - Street side and downstair bar. Live music. Across from The Pubb.

• Co Art - A cafe-style place to hang-out in the evening / night. There is a live band almost every day with international well-known cover-songs.

• The Corazon - Claims to be a "Latin", though they never really play songs in Spanish there. Update 12/2009: this bar has been closed and looks unlikely to re-open.

• Acoustic

• 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.

• Paragon located at Hansa Plaza

• Sunrise Coffee (หอมกลิ่นกาแฟ) A nice little coffee shop offering a variety of coffee blends and smoothies; very cozy atmosphere. It is located on Sheutit Rd (ชีอุทิศ), opposite the Hakka Chinese Association and the D-Pan-Panya restaurant.

[edit][add listing] 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 th budget hotel you may well be asked if you want 'company'. A shake of the head is all that is needed. Don't be put of the hotel because of it

[edit] Budget

• Asian Hotel, 55-59 Thanon Nipatuthit 3 Hatyai Songkhla (Southern), [4]. Basic facilities, is one of the older bigger hotels several decades back. Walking distance from (7.0062884220792885,100.47035694122314) edit

• Hatyai Rama Hotel, 9/5 Sripoovanart Road, Hat Yai, Songkhla 90110 (Southern), [5]. Once you consider all the features that the Hatyai Rama Hotel has to offer you can easily see why it is the first choice for the discerning traveler.  edit

• Lee Garden Plaza Hotel, (above The Plaza). buffect munch/dinner is worth a try, 50% off for senior citizen 1450 baht including breakfast.  edit
• King's Hotel, 126-134 Nithak U Thid 1 Rd. Had Yai, Songkla (Conveniently located in the heart of commercial Hat Yai, or Had Yai, King's Hotel is a block from the railway station, major department stores, like Central and Robinson, Santisuk & the Kim Yong Markets), [6]. 400-600 THB Cable TV with English channels, hot shower, double bed.  edit

• Indra Hotel - Thamanoonvithi Road/Next to Monkey Pub. Nice inexpensive place to stay near market and transportation (bus agents).
• Chaiyong garden home located at Hoimook road
• Lousie Guesthouse, close to train station, By Robinson shopping mall. checkout: 12 am. 1) Good standard on room, big and have European toilets, free toilet paper and can ask for more. staff is lite grumpy (may 2009). 2) Staff behaved very friendly to me (June 2009). It's good deal either way. Dbl fan 300 THB.  edit
• Cathay Guesthouse, not far from train station.. checkout: 12 am. Simple rooms, asian toilet, have to buy toilet paper. Sells European breakfeast and have transport service. Friendly staff (may 2009).bed bugs & noisie. Twin fan 220 THB.  edit

[edit] Mid-range

• Winstar Hotel, 54/7 Sripuwanart. Hatyai Songkhla 90110, ☎ +66 (0) 74 465222. Winstar Hotel is a new standard hotel designed and decorated with Chinese modern style, situated just besides Diana Shopping Centre. Room amenities includes Internet Access, air conditioned, hot and cold water shower, mini bar and colour TV with cable channels. Other facilities includes Fountain Beer Park, Lim Breng Restaurant, Star Coffee shop and Thai Ancient massage. 700 baht.  edit

• Golden Crown Plaza Hotel, 42-43 Niphatuthit 3. Opened in 2007. The standard rooms are very nice and comfortable. 850 baht.  edit

• Lee Garden Plaza Hotel, (above The Plaza). 1450 baht including breakfast.  edit

• Siam City Hotel, 25-35 Niphatutit 2 Road, ☎ 074-353-111/30. Decent city views. Mini fridge. Feels 30 years old. No English TV channels. 855 baht.  edit

• President Hotel, 420 Petchkasem Road, ☎ 074-349500 (fax: 074-230609). Pretty large rooms, aircon, free Wifi, TV, and an OK room service. 4155.  edit

• New Season Hotel, 106 Prachathipat Rd. Hatyai Songkhla 90110, ☎ +66 (0) 7435 2888 (newseason_hotel@yahoo.com, fax: +66 (0) 7435 2390). New Season Hotel is a deluxe-class hotel, situated in the heart of Hatyai's city. New Season Hotel offers 112 deluxe room and 7 Junior suites, including non-smoking floors, with panoramic view of the city and mountain. Every room features internet access, touch memory door locking system, smoke detector, safety deposit box, minibar and colour TV. 24 hour surveillance and car park is also provided. On site there is a Thai Massage with 17 luxourious rooms and a coffee shop providing a variety of cuisine from Thai, Western and Chinese. 900 baht.  edit

[edit] Stay safe

As the largest city in the South, A series of bombings in September 2006 that specifically targeted restaurants and shopping centers popular with visitors (and locals) killed two tourists. There were another 7 bombs in May 2007 in Hat Yai which killed one person. Strict security measures (bagsearches, metal detectors) are to be expected in most gathering places.

[edit] Get out

Routes through Hat Yai

Bangkok ← Nakhon Si Thammarat ←

N  S

→ Padang Besar → Sungai Kolok

This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!