On my recent trip to Thailand I ended up in Hat Yai. I was meant to stay just 1 night and spend 2 or 3 nights in Koh Lipe but a few too many drinks and a missed boat put pay to that, oh well!
So this ended up leaving me and my friend in Hat Yai for 4 nights. Located in the far south of Thailand inland – the town has a population of about 200,000 people. I wouldn’t say it’s somewhere you’d spend too much time as a Western tourist but as I managed 4 nights here I can tell you what to do to get the most out of your stay.
Getting around Hat Yai
There are a few ways to get around, the place itself is pretty small and can reach most parts within 20 mins max. We used Grab and found most journeys within the town to be around 150- 200 THB (around $3-5). We were taking mainly back taxi’s so we could take a look at the town as we drove through it, these were actually more expensive than a normal Air conditioned Taxi so you can save like 60-80 THB.Even all the way from the airport to our hotel was 287 THB so around ($7-9), note we did take a normal car for this trip.
You could also rent a moped locally if you are staying longer or want to travel around excessively.
We must have used Grab about 20 times in the 4 days so between us we spent around 3,000 THB so about $85 total. Not bad to have no hassle of parking and also being able to have a few drinks as well.
Highlights of Hat Yai
Nightlife
Now there aren’t a lot of places to go that are going to blow your socks off here, in terms of music and atmosphere, but we did find a great local bar /club by chance. It’s called Gasoline, has live music most nights or DJ. Even on week nights it was pretty packed.
Probably a better venue and just a couple of mins walk away is Zound, now this is where we headed first but it had like 9 people in at 11pm, hence we stumbled across Gasoline. Having said this, the club does get busy after about 1am, it has DJ’s as well as live music too.
If you are wanting a quieter night and stay in the centre of the city then there is a bar called Post Laser Disc Pub, where you have live music as well as people trying their hand on the mic, so karaoke I guess. They have lots of different beers and I also tried a cocktail which was pretty decent.
There are many other places to drink from small bars to places trying to be like English pubs, for example The Swan below, also local small places in and around the centre but the above 3 are the pick of places and for sure where you should check out.
Cafes
We went to quite a few Cafes during the day to get ice coffees and enjoy the Air con. The best one by far for the drink and also the surrounding was Billin Cafe & Bistro, very instagrammable and just very quirky.
Another cafe that was really good, was A CUP CAFE, we sat inside but they have a decent garden outside if the weather is mild, rather than really hot.
One cafe I went to and ate, which I won’t mention the name of. I ordered Fish and Chips, as I cut into the fish, and ended up they had battered salmon, never seen or tried this before. No surprise it was not nice at all so left it, it certainly won’t be catching on.
Most of the cafes are within a 10 mins taxi of the centre if not shorter or can be walked too.
Street Market
Visit Kim Yong Market Explore this bustling market, which is one of the largest and most popular markets in Hat Yai. You can find everything here, from food to toys. Most people go for the food and walk around eating their purchases.
It can take a while to walk around as normally busy and people seem to like walking slowly or suddenly stopping to buy or check out each stall.
Other things to do in Hat Yai
Explore Hat Yai Municipal Park (Khao Kho Hong): This park offers a peaceful escape from the city with its lush greenery, scenic lakes, and walking trails. You can take a leisurely stroll, enjoy a picnic, or even hike up to the top of the hill for panoramic views of the city.
Wat Hat Yai Nai: Visit this beautiful Buddhist temple, known for its giant golden Buddha statue. The temple is located on a hill, and you can climb the steps to reach the statue and enjoy panoramic views of the cityscape.
Phra Maha Chedi Tripob Trimongkol: This impressive pagoda is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Hat Yai. It features intricate Thai architecture and is adorned with colourful tiles. Visitors can climb to the top for panoramic views of the city and surrounding countryside.
Ton Nga Chang Wildlife Sanctuary: Located just outside of Hat Yai, this sanctuary is home to a variety of wildlife, including elephants, monkeys, and various bird species. You can explore the park on foot or by hiring a guide for a trekking adventure.
Hat Yai Cable Car: Take a ride on the cable car to the top of Khao Kho Hong mountain for stunning views of the city and surrounding landscape. The cable car ride offers a scenic journey and is a popular attraction for both locals and tourists.
Summary
OK, so there aren’t too many highlights of Hat Yai. It really is for me a border town. Did I enjoy it, yes as I was able to catch up with my mate and have some drinks and good Thai food. Would I go back again, maybe for a night but would certainly go out my way to be there again.