The shopping-and-eating capital of the deep south — Kim Yong market, Khlong Hae floating market, the park cable car, and fried chicken with dim sum
Hat Yai is the commercial heart of Songkhla province and the trade, food, and travel hub of the lower south. It sits close to the Malaysian border, so Malaysian and Singaporean visitors cross over to shop and eat in big numbers — which keeps the city buzzing day and night. The pu
Start with stays →Hat Yai fried chicken — Fried chicken with crisp skin scattered with f
Kim Yong and Santisuk markets — Markets in central Hat Yai selling imported sn
Ton Nga Chang Waterfall — A multi-tier waterfall in the Khao Kaeo ra
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The best of Hat Yai — don't miss these on a first trip
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7.1Highlights and sights around Hat Yai — nature, city and culture
Markets in central Hat Yai selling imported snacks and goods — sweets, chocolate, nuts, dried squid, and souvenirs. You can browse all day; it's one of the city's defining sights.
An old floating market where vendors paddle boats selling southern Thai food along the canal. Open Friday–Sunday, it's a nice spot to graze and eat by the water.
A hilltop park in the city where you ride the cable car up to pay respects at Phra Buddha Mongkol Maharaj, the Brahma shrine, and a large Guanyin statue, with views over Hat Yai in every direction.
The night market around Lee Gardens and Greenway brings together street food, snacks, and shopping, open late — it's the city's after-dark eating and drinking quarter.
Hat Yai fried chicken with its crisp skin and crispy fried shallots, paired with morning dim sum, is the signature local eat everyone has to try. You can find it all over town from morning to late night.
Hat Yai is a handy stopover and launch point for old-town Songkhla, Samila Beach, Ton Nga Chang waterfall, and crossing into Malaysia — easy by train, coach, or plane.
Hat Yai's signature food — real local spots, rounded up and ranked
Fried chicken with crisp skin scattered with fried shallots, eaten with sticky rice or steamed rice and dipping sauce. It's the city's number-one famous dish, with several well-known shops.
Dim sum shops open at the crack of dawn — har gow, shumai, steamed buns, and Chinese tea. It's a southern-Chinese breakfast culture that's part of Hat Yai.
Hat Yai chicken rice with fragrant oiled rice and tender chicken, plus red pork and crispy pork rice, are popular lunches at the city's old shops.
Gaeng tai pla, gaeng leuang, khua kling, and khao yam are everywhere in town — punchy, spicy and salty, eaten with hot steamed rice and fresh raw vegetables on the side.
With the city's Chinese roots, Hat Yai has plenty of Chinese restaurants, dim sum, and banquet spreads — roast duck, crispy pork, and southern-Chinese-style seafood dishes.
The Greenway, Lee Gardens, and ASEAN night-market areas gather snacks, grills, fried bites, and sweets to graze on after dark.
The city has plenty of fresh-coffee cafes and new brunch spots, both downtown and near the university — good for working or taking a break from shopping.
Dried squid, grilled squid, mooncake-style pastries, cashews, and imported goods from Kim Yong market are souvenirs almost everyone takes home.
Ready-made plans — from a day trip to 2–3 days, plus routes to neighbouring provinces
Best time to go, getting around, and what to know before visiting Hat Yai
Good year-round (lots of indoor spots and markets) · December–February has the best weather, while November–December is the rainy stretch for the Gulf side of the south
Markets in central Hat Yai selling imported snacks and goods — s
An old floating market where vendors paddle boats selling southe
A hilltop park in the city where you ride the cable car up to pa
The night market around Lee Gardens and Greenway brings together
Hat Yai fried chicken with its crisp skin and crispy fried shall
Hat Yai is a handy stopover and launch point for old-town Songkh
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🧜A two-sea province with a colorful old town, Samila Beach and its mermaid, the Nang Ngam street quarter, and the border trade city of Hat Yai
Explore Songkhla →
🌾A lakeside town on Songkhla Lake — Khao Ok Thalu mountain, red lotus blooms at Thale Noi, rice fields with water buffalo, and the home of shadow puppetry and Manora dance
Explore Phatthalung →
🏝️A southern border town on the Andaman, a UNESCO Global Geopark, the Tarutao–Koh Lipe islands, and a quiet Muslim way of life
Explore Satun →
🕌An old southern port town with a Malay soul — historic mosques, a Sino-Portuguese old quarter, and bold local food
Explore Pattani →Hat Yai is the commercial heart of Songkhla province and the trade, food, and travel hub of the lower south. It sits close to the Malaysian border, so Malaysian and Singaporean visitors cross over to shop and eat in big numbers — which keeps the city buzzing day and night.
The pull of Hat Yai is its markets — Kim Yong and Santisuk sell imported snacks and goods, Khlong Hae is a floating market where vendors paddle boats selling southern Thai food, and Greenway–ASEAN is the night-market scene. For temple visits and views there's Hat Yai Municipal Park, where you ride a cable car up to pay respects at the giant Phra Buddha Mongkol Maharaj, the Brahma shrine, and a large Guanyin statue on the hill. Food is the real star here — Hat Yai fried chicken, morning dim sum, chicken rice, and a comfortable blend of Chinese and southern cooking. Come to Hat Yai to eat, shop, and use it as a base for exploring Songkhla and the lower south.
Best time: Good year-round (lots of indoor spots and markets) · December–February has the best weather, while November–December is the rainy stretch for the Gulf side of the south
