🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
What makes Hat Yai so easy to explore is how close everything is. The city centre is walkable, and most of the famous spots sit within a few hundred metres of each other. The three things you really need to do: dim sum in the morning (a genuine daily ritual for locals here), Kim Yong Market for imported snacks and souvenirs at prices you won't find elsewhere, and a night market for a long, leisurely evening of eating.
Hat Yai Dim Sum — Where Locals Actually Go
Dim sum culture here runs deep — it came with the city's Sino-Thai community and never left. Baskets start around ฿15–30, so ordering several to share barely dents your wallet. These are the places that keep coming up in conversation and are still open.
Kuk Chai Dim Sum
A Hat Yai institution. Both locals and foreign visitors pack this place — siu mai, har gow, and bao all made fresh, same flavour as always. Expect a queue on weekend mornings.
Chok Dee Dim Sum (Chok Dee Tae Tiam)
A legendary spot in the city centre. Generous portions, low prices, and goes well alongside a bowl of hot bak kut teh — many regulars order both. Simple old-school Chinese shop-house feel.
Betong Dim Sum
Genuine Betong style — larger pieces, strong on prawn har gow and pork siu mai. Good with a hot tea. Worth trying if you want southern deep-south dim sum rather than the standard.
Hatyai Dimsum
Wider menu and slightly longer hours than most. Mon–Fri 07:00–14:00, Sat–Sun until 15:00. Good option if you're a late riser who still wants dim sum as a proper lunch.
Ah Ma Dim Sum
Newer fit-out, air-conditioned, comfortable seating — good for families or bigger groups. The food is solid and the space is clean if you're not used to the older-style shops.
Suan Siri Dim Sum
Traditional flavours, lots of regulars, good value. One order and you're full. The kind of place nearby workers stop at before heading to the office.
Dim Sum Tips
Popular places often sell out before noon — aim to arrive before 9:00 if you want the full menu · Order a few baskets at a time; they're small but filling fast · A glass of kopi (Thai-style old-school coffee) or iced barley pairs perfectly with dim sum here
Book the activities in your Songkhla 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.
Kim Yong Market — Souvenirs & Imported Goods
Kim Yong Market sits on Suphasarnrangsan Road, right in the middle of Hat Yai. It's a two-storey covered market that runs from morning until evening. The ground floor is all food — snacks, souvenirs, nuts, dried fruits, teas, and coffees. Upstairs: electronics, games, clothes, and imported goods from Malaysia and Indonesia. Prices are usually better than the malls, and you can bargain.
- Malaysian imported snacks — chocolates, biscuits, sweets, and brands you won't easily find in Bangkok. Cheap and easy to carry.
- Nuts and dried fruits — premium imported varieties, priced per kilo and cheaper than supermarkets. Most stalls let you taste before you buy.
- Coffee and tea — southern kopi blends, instant iced-tea sachets. Popular, light, and easy to pack as gifts.
- Processed seafood — dried squid, salted fish, quality shrimp paste. Look for vacuum-sealed packs if you're carrying them on a plane.
- Phi Khong's Shop — a well-recommended souvenir stall inside the market, known for freshness and tight sealing. A safe bet for buying gifts.
Shopping Kim Yong Smarter
Walk two or three stalls and compare prices before buying — the same items vary more than you'd think · If you're buying several things from one vendor, ask for a small discount; most are happy to deal · Save heavy items like canned goods or bottles for your last stop of the day so you're not hauling them around for hours
Hat Yai Souvenirs Worth Bringing Home
Beyond Kim Yong, Hat Yai has a few iconic edible souvenirs sold at shops around the city. These are the ones people actually carry back on a regular basis.
Baan Ko Khai Bakery
Fresh-baked cakes and pastries made daily, no preservatives, halal certified. Multiple branches around the city including near Greenway — easy to grab on your way back.
Hat Yai Fried Chicken Sauce
Bottled to take home — the sweet-tangy-spicy southern dipping sauce that makes Hat Yai fried chicken what it is. Works with almost anything and it's a gift people don't usually see coming.
Hat Yai-Style Crispy Fried Shallots
Fried fresh before packing, good shelf life, and great sprinkled over rice, noodles, or eggs. A gift that travels well and tends to go over well with northern and central Thai friends.
Hat Yai Night Markets — Eating After Dark
Once the sun goes down, Hat Yai shifts into evening eating mode. There are a few markets to choose from depending on the day — Greenway is the biggest with the widest food selection, while Asean Night Bazaar is right in the city centre and walkable from most hotels.
Greenway Night Market
The biggest night market in town. Southern Thai food, international options, desserts, plus a full section of clothes, accessories, bags, and shoes. Open Tue–Sat 17:00–22:00. Better with a group.
Asean Night Bazaar
Right in the city centre — walkable from hotels in the Niphat Uthit area. Food, toys, clothes, all at low prices. Good for an after-dinner stroll without needing a car.
PSU Hat Yai Agriculture Market
Fresh produce, organic veg and fruit mixed with fusion food stalls and snacks. Student-crowd atmosphere, wallet-friendly prices. Go here if you want a market that feels genuinely local.
Before You Head to the Night Market
Check days in advance — Greenway is typically closed some days (usually Tue–Sat only) · Bring cash in small bills; many small stalls don't accept transfers · Arriving around 18:00 means the stalls are still fully stocked and it's not yet as crowded as it gets around 20:00
2–3 Day Block Itinerary
This plan keeps your days linear — no unnecessary backtracking. The goal is to eat well and shop smart without exhausting yourself. If you only have 2 days, drop Day 3 and squeeze the last round of souvenir shopping into Day 2 morning.
Morning Dim Sum + Kim Yong Market + Greenway Night Market
Café + Second Round of Souvenirs + Asean Night Bazaar
Morning Market + Final Souvenir Run Before Heading Home
Getting Around & Rough Budget
- The city centre is walkable — dim sum spots, Kim Yong Market, and Asean Night Bazaar are all in the same area and easy to reach on foot.
- Greenway is slightly outside the centre — a motorbike taxi or Grab ride costs a matter of tens of baht.
- Food budget per day — around ฿250–400/person if you're sticking to street food and dim sum.
- Souvenir budget — ฿500–1,500 will fill a bag. Factor in some room for bargaining on top of that.
- Cash — keep small bills on hand; markets and small stalls often prefer cash over transfers.
Want a hotel that puts you walking distance from the markets? See our curated pick of Hat Yai–Songkhla hotels.
See Songkhla Hotels →