🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
Hat Yai is a city for shopping and eating, but it isn't on the coast. So a lot of people staying there go looking for a beach to change up the scenery for half a day. Samila Beach sits within Songkhla municipality, about 30 kilometres from central Hat Yai — roughly a 40–45 minute drive or van ride. It works as a there-and-back trip: head out in the morning and come back in the evening, or go in the afternoon and wait for the sunset before heading home. You can see everything without staying overnight.
The beach itself is fine white sand that locals call Sai Kaeo (crystal sand), with a shady row of pines running parallel to the shore. The waves are gentle, so it suits a stroll more than serious swimming. The spot everyone comes to photograph is the Golden Mermaid, who sits combing her hair on the rocks by the sea, facing the water. A little further along there's a cat-and-mouse statue, and out toward the tip of the cape is Laem Son On, which is quieter and shadier.
How to get there from Hat Yai
Samila Beach is at the tip of the cape in Songkhla town. To get there from Hat Yai you head straight along the Hat Yai–Songkhla road (Highway 407, then into Songkhla town). There are a few options depending on your budget and how easy you want it.
- Hat Yai–Songkhla vans — the most popular and cheapest way. You can catch one around Kim Yong Market, the Hat Yai bus terminal, or pickup points in town. They run often throughout the day and the fare is just tens of baht per trip. Get off in Songkhla town, then take a motorbike taxi or walk the short distance to the beach.
- Driving yourself / renting a car in Hat Yai — the easiest if you want to stop at several spots. Just drop a pin on "Laem Samila" or "Golden Mermaid" in Google Maps. There's parking by the beach and the route is straightforward.
- Taxi / chartered car — good if you're a group or don't want to change vehicles. Agree on a round-trip price and the waiting time up front; it usually works out better than paying per leg.
- Motorbike — for riders who are used to upcountry roads. It's a relaxed ride, but it gets dark fast on the way back in the evening, so leave extra time and watch the traffic on the main road.
Leave buffer for the trip back
If you plan to wait for sunset at Samila, vans back to Hat Yai start thinning out after dark. If you're not driving yourself, check the time of the last van in advance, or budget for a taxi back — that way you won't have to rush off before the sun goes down.
Want more out of Hat Yai? Book tours & activities
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.
The Golden Mermaid, Songkhla's landmark
The Golden Mermaid statue is the symbol of both Samila Beach and Songkhla town. It was made in 1966 at the initiative of the provincial deputy governor of the time, designed and cast in dark-patinated bronze by Ajarn Chit Buabush, a former director of Poh-Chang College. The statue is a mermaid combing her hair on the rocks by the sea, facing the water — and it's a spot where visitors queue up to take photos almost every day.
Once you're there, walk a little past the mermaid and you'll find the cat-and-mouse statue, added later, another popular check-in that plays off the legend of the Cat and Mouse Islands out at sea. Pose with the statue, then turn your camera toward the water and you can line up both islands as the backdrop.
Cat & Mouse Islands and the local legend
Look out from the beach and you'll see two small islands floating side by side — locals call them Cat Island and Mouse Island, a view that has paired with the Golden Mermaid at Samila for a long time. The folk legend goes that a Chinese merchant brought a dog and a cat aboard his junk; along the way the two animals plotted to steal a magic crystal and swim back to shore, but something went wrong and they drowned and turned into islands, while the merchant and his junk became the sandy beach and rocks of this stretch. It's the kind of story that gives an ordinary view a little extra charm when you stand and take it in.
Want to get closer to the islands
Most visitors view the Cat and Mouse Islands from the shore. If you want to get closer, at certain times local fishing boats will take you out for a loop around the islands. Ask the villagers around the pier and agree on a price clearly first, and check the weather and the swell — the sea on this side gets rough during the monsoon late in the year.
Laem Son On — a quiet corner for the breeze
Past Samila Beach, out toward the tip of the cape, is Laem Son On — a continuation of the shore with a dense pine grove and fewer people than the mermaid zone. It's good for spreading a mat under the pines and catching the cool sea breeze, or for a relaxed cycle along the beach. It's a corner locals like to sit and unwind in the evening, so if you want somewhere calmer than the main zone, walk or drive a bit further this way.
What to eat by the shore
Along Samila Beach there's food for everything from a quick snack to a full meal. Once you've finished walking and taking photos, it's easy to find a seat and eat with the breeze going.
Seafood restaurants by the beach
There are several sea-view seafood spots around Laem Samila. Order fresh prawns, crab, fish and squid, and eat with the breeze while you look out to the Cat and Mouse Islands. Prices depend on the place and the weight, so ask before you order to be on the safe side.
Som tam, fried chicken & snacks
Cart vendors and small stalls along the beach do som tam, fried chicken, sticky rice and grilled meatballs — snack food that pairs nicely with the sea breeze. Good to grab and sit on a mat under the pines.
Fruit, coconut water & ice cream
Carts with seasonal fruit, fragrant young coconuts and ice cream run the length of the beach — good for cooling off while you walk around taking photos.
When to go
Samila Beach is at its prettiest and most comfortable in the evening, roughly from three o'clock until dusk — the sun softens, the sea breeze cools off, and you get to sit and wait for the sunset, which is the highlight here. If you come at midday the sun is strong and hot, so it's better for quick photos before ducking into the shade of the pines or a restaurant.
- Evening (3:00–6:30 pm) — the best time: soft light, cool breeze, and the sunset. This is when locals come out to stroll.
- Morning — quiet and uncrowded, good for photographing the mermaid without queuing, but no sunset yet.
- Midday — hot with strong sun; better for a quick photo stop along the way than a long stay.
- Late year (Nov–Dec) — monsoon season on this side, with rain and rough seas on some days. Check the forecast before you leave Hat Yai.
Make the most of a half-day trip
If you've got a half-day in the afternoon, leave Hat Yai around two, reach Samila a little after three, walk around photographing the Golden Mermaid and the cat-and-mouse statue, head on to sit in the breeze at Laem Son On, eat by the shore, then wait for the sunset before heading back. You get the view, the food, and the evening light all in one trip.
What to prepare and good to know
- Sun protection — midday sun is strong, so bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen, especially if you're shooting photos in the afternoon.
- Carry cash — beach stalls, carts and most van fares are cash only, so small notes are handy.
- Mind your valuables when swimming — if you're going in the water or walking far, leave your things with someone or take turns watching them; don't leave them out on the beach.
- Respect the place and the statue — the Golden Mermaid is the city's symbol, so photograph it but don't climb on it or damage it, and take your rubbish back with you.
Plan a full Hat Yai–Songkhla trip
See the Hat Yai travel guide →