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🛍️ Hat Yai trip plan

Hat Yai Shopping Plan
Kim Yong–Santi Sukh–Malls–ASEAN Night Bazaar

Hat Yai has been the shopping town of southern Thailand for decades. Malaysian families drive across the border just to shop here, because everything sits within walking distance — from the old souvenir market of Kim Yong to the clothes-and-cosmetics market of Santi Sukh, big air-conditioned malls, and night markets you can stroll all evening. This plan spreads it over 2 days, going zone by zone so you're not running back and forth.

🛍️ Souvenirs + clothes🏬 Markets + malls🌙 Finish at the night market
Hat Yai Shopping Plan Kim Yong–Santi Sukh–Malls–ASEAN Night Bazaar

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

The charm of shopping in Hat Yai is that everything is packed into the city centre. The Niphat Uthit 1–2–3 area all connects on foot, with plenty of hotels nearby — you can walk it, or hop on a motorbike taxi or tuk-tuk just as easily. This plan splits the day into market and mall shopping during daylight, then saves the night market for the evening — because each spot keeps different hours, so getting the order right means you won't waste a trip.

Before you set off — what's open when

What a lot of people get wrong is that the opening and closing hours aren't the same everywhere. Plan the order badly and you'll show up to a locked gate. Here's the quick rundown first.

  • Kim Yong Market — open daily, roughly 06:00–18:00. Before 10am it's fresh produce and fruit; later in the morning it shifts fully to souvenirs → walk it in the morning.
  • Santi Sukh Market — open roughly 09:00–20:00, right next to Kim Yong so you can walk straight over → continue here during the day after Kim Yong.
  • Malls (Central / Lee Gardens / Odean) — open roughly 10:00/11:00–21:00/22:00 → escape the afternoon heat and rest your legs inside.
  • ASEAN Night Bazaar — open Tue–Sun, roughly 16:00–22:00, closed Monday → save it for the evening of day one.

The smoothest order

Morning: walk Kim Yong once the souvenirs are fully out → midday: cross over to Santi Sukh → afternoon when the sun is harsh: duck into a mall to rest your legs in the cool air → evening: finish at the ASEAN Night Bazaar, eating and shopping as you stroll.

🎟️

Book the activities in your Hat Yai trip ahead

Booking online ahead on Klook or GetYourGuide is usually cheaper than the gate and skips the queue. Pick only the experiences you actually want — prices and availability are shown live on each site.

🎟️ Top tours in Hat YaiHighlights, guided Klook 🎟️ Hat Yai attractions & ticketsSkip-the-line entry tickets Klook 🚐 Day trips from Hat YaiOut and back in a day Klook 🌎 Hat Yai activities (GetYourGuide)Global tour marketplace GetYourGuide
🎟️ See all Hat Yai tours & activities (Klook)

Day 1 — half a day of souvenirs, half in the malls, finish at the night market

Day 1

Kim Yong → Santi Sukh → malls → ASEAN Night Bazaar

08:30
Breakfast near Kim Yong, then start walking the marketThere are plenty of dim sum and congee shops in front of the market — eat up first and the walk is easier on the stomach.
09:00
Walk Kim Yong Market and tick off all your souvenirsThe footpath out front is lined with stalls of nuts, cashews, dried plums, dried fruit and imported chocolate. Inside it's dried goods, processed seafood, and tea and coffee.
11:00
Cross over to Santi Sukh Market in the Niphat Uthit areaThis zone is strong on clothes, bags, shoes, perfume, cosmetics and small electronics — plus goods from Malaysia and Indonesia to choose from.
12:30
Break for lunch in the areaAround Niphat Uthit you'll find chicken rice, dim sum and southern Thai restaurants — eat somewhere close by so you don't waste time walking.
14:00
Head into Central Festival Hat Yai to escape the afternoon heatThe biggest mall in the lower south, with the full range of brands, cold air-con and easy walking. There's a souvenir zone with nicely packed gifts if you want things ready to carry onto the plane.
16:30
Stop by Lee Gardens Plaza or Odean for more shoppingLee Gardens is right in the city centre, with a night market starting to set up around it. Odean leans younger, with cute, affordable clothes.
18:30
Take a ride to the ASEAN Night Bazaar on Chotwittayakul RoadIt's near the Hat Yai bus terminal — a few minutes from the centre by motorbike taxi or taxi. Open Tue–Sun, closed Monday.
19:00
Walk the ASEAN Night Bazaar — shop for fashion and grab street foodClothes, bags, shoes, watches and accessories at easy prices, plus a food court on the 2nd floor where you can sit and refuel.
21:30
Back to the hotel, pack your souvenirsPack the dry goods now; leave anything that needs refrigeration for the day you head home.

If you come on a Monday

The ASEAN Night Bazaar is closed Mondays, so swap in a night market around Lee Gardens or the Greenway Night Market instead — same walk-eat-shop vibe.

Day 2 — pick up what you missed + morning market before heading home

Day 2

Morning at Kim Yong → grab souvenirs → mall before leaving

07:00
Head back to Kim Yong Market in the morning for fresh produce and fruitEarly morning is the fresh-produce window, with seasonal southern fruit. Pick what you want to eat fresh today; you can keep buying dried souvenirs where you left off yesterday.
09:00
Make the rounds for the specific souvenirs you had in mindYou scoped out the prices on day one, so buying for real today feels more confident. Compare 2–3 shops before buying in bulk.
11:00
Stop by a mall for nicely packed gifts + anything that needs air-conBoxed snacks and brand-name souvenirs — buying them in the mall means they're ready to carry onto the plane, no wrapping needed.
12:30
Last meal, double-check your souvenirs before the trip homeRun through the souvenir checklist one more time, in case you forgot something for the boss or a friend — go grab it in time before leaving town.

The Hat Yai souvenirs people take home most

If you don't know where to start, these are the souvenirs you see people hauling out of Kim Yong the most, ordered from easiest to buy and most likely to please. Prices are rough ranges and depend on the shop and season — you can haggle if you buy a lot.

1

Cashews / roasted nuts

Stalls in front of Kim Yong Market

One of Kim Yong's top souvenirs — salted, honey-roasted, and plenty of shops where you can taste before you buy. Easy to carry, keeps well, and a hit with almost every age group.

Top souvenirKeeps well
around ฿380–540/kg
2

Pistachios / almonds / macadamias

Nut stalls out front

Graded imported nuts sold by the kilo, great for splitting into small bags to give to several people. Cheaper here than in a regular mall.

Imported nuts
around ฿380–540/kg
3

Dried squid / salted fish / processed seafood

Inner zone of the market

Dried goods from the southern sea — dried squid, salted fish, good-quality shrimp paste. Things southerners are proud of, perfect for people who love to cook.

SeafoodGift for elders
from ฿150 depending on type
4

Dried plums, dried fruit, peaches, raisins

Stalls out front

Sweet-and-sour snacks to nibble on the road, with plenty of styles to grab. Easy to buy and not pricey.

SnacksLight on the wallet
from ฿50–120/bag
5

Imported chocolate & snacks from Malaysia/Indonesia

Out front + Santi Sukh

Imported snacks that are hard to find in other cities — chocolate, biscuits and treats from across the border. Kids love them.

Imported snacks
from ฿30–100/piece
6

Tea & coffee (teh tarik, old-style coffee)

Dry-goods shops in the market

Teh tarik mix and southern-style coffee you can brew at home for that Hat Yai cafe taste. An easy gift for any coffee lover.

Easy to carry back
from ฿60–150/bag
7

Southern chilli pastes & curry pastes

Dry-goods zone

Southern-style curry and chilli pastes that pack real heat — a winning gift for anyone who cooks. Sold both pre-packed and by the scoop.

True southern flavour
from ฿40–120
8

Clothes, bags, shoes (Santi Sukh / ASEAN Night)

Santi Sukh + ASEAN Night Bazaar

Not food, but people haul plenty home — fashion clothing, bags and shoes at easy prices. You can browse all day at Santi Sukh and the ASEAN Night Bazaar.

Everyday goodsFashion
from ฿100 depending on style

Haggling like a Hat Yai local

At Kim Yong and Santi Sukh, if you're buying several things or going big, just tell the vendor straight that you'd like a better price — you'll usually get a freebie or a discount. Walk 2–3 shops to compare before you commit, and always check the expiry dates on dry goods.

Which zone for what — the short version

Souvenirs

Kim Yong

Edible souvenirs — nuts, snacks, processed seafood, tea and coffee. Open morning to evening.

Clothes & goods

Santi Sukh

Clothes, bags, shoes, perfume, cosmetics and small electronics.

Air-con malls

Malls (Central/Lee Gardens/Odean)

Brands, air-con, nicely packed gifts ready for the plane, and shade from the afternoon sun.

Night market

ASEAN Night Bazaar

Affordable fashion + a 2nd-floor food court — eat and shop as you stroll in the evening.

Good to know before you shop

  • Carry cash — most market stalls take cash and PromptPay, but some small shops still don't take cards.
  • Bring an empty bag — pack a big bag or canvas tote; people buy Hat Yai souvenirs several bags at a time.
  • Buy chilled items on the way out — salted fish and fresh seafood are best bought on your last day before catching the bus or plane, so they don't spoil en route.
  • Avoid the midday sun — open-air markets get very hot from 12:00–15:00; ducking into a mall to rest is far more comfortable then.
  • Check for Mondays — the ASEAN Night Bazaar is closed Mondays, so plan your days carefully.

Want a place to stay near Kim Yong–Santi Sukh for easy shopping on foot?

See the Top 10 Hat Yai hotels →

FAQ

What's the difference between Kim Yong and Santi Sukh markets?

Kim Yong focuses on edible souvenirs — nuts, snacks, dried fruit and processed seafood — while Santi Sukh focuses on clothes, bags, shoes, perfume and cosmetics. The two sit right next to each other in the Niphat Uthit area, so you can walk straight between them in a single trip.

What time of day is best for shopping in Hat Yai?

Morning to late morning for Kim Yong's souvenir market when everything is out, midday cross over to Santi Sukh, afternoon when the sun is harsh duck into a mall to rest your legs, then save the ASEAN Night Bazaar for the evening since night markets open from around 16:00 onwards.

Is the ASEAN Night Bazaar open every day?

No — it's open Tue–Sun, roughly 16:00–22:00, and closed Monday. If you land on a Monday, head to a night market around Lee Gardens or Greenway instead.

Which Hat Yai souvenirs are easy to buy and please everyone?

Cashews and roasted nuts are the top pick — easy to carry and they keep well. Next come dried fruit, dried plums, imported snacks, tea and coffee, and processed seafood for anyone who loves to cook.

Can you haggle at Hat Yai markets?

Yes, especially when you buy several things or go big. Just ask the vendor for a better price and you'll usually get a freebie or a discount. It's worth comparing 2–3 shops before committing, and always check the expiry dates on dry goods.

Related

🗺️ Hat Yai travel guide🏨 Top 10 Hat Yai hotels🎁 Edible souvenirs in Hat Yai

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