The name "Hat Yai" is a short version of "Ma Hat Yai", meaning giant Ma Hat tree.
Hat Yai also Haad Yai or Had Yai is a city in southern Thailand near the border to Malaysia. With a population of 155,585 the core city and about 300,000 in the Greater Hat Yai, Hat Yai is the biggest city of the Songkhla Province and the largest metropolitan area in Southern Thailand, and is thus often mistaken as being the capital of the province. The city covers the whole tambon Hat Yai of Hat Yai district.
The Prince of Songkla University has its biggest campus in Hat Yai.
If you are looking for travel information to/from Koh Lipe, contact Pak Bara Travel
Hat Yai International Airport is about a 40 minute taxi ride to the city center and railway station.
Taxis can be found at the airport entrance for which the drivers will ask around 250 baht. A minivan service into the city costs 75 baht. A songthaew runs into town for about 10 baht and can be found at the far end of the parking lot. From Phet Kasem road, there is a Highway No. 4135 (Sanambin Panij road) linking to the airport.
Car rental is available on arrival from Avis.
Flights
There are daily flights to/from the new Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport
- Air Asia
- Nok Air
- One-Two-Go
- Thai Airways
- Singapore
- Tiger Airways
Direct flights to Phuket (HKT) and Kuala Lumpur (KUL) have been withdrawn. However, Nok Air and One-Two-Go recently announced that they would resume direct flights to Phuket starting May 2007. Unofficial sources also mentioned that Tiger Airways would withdraw flights to Hatyai, with effective from 28 Oct 07.
From Kuala Lumpur, one can fly with Air Asia to Alor Star, and opt for the Air Asia shuttle van that will ferry directly to Hat Yai.
Taxis & Mini-bus
The tour agent across the street from the King's can organize private taxis as well as mini-buses to get you to Pak Barra so yo can get to the islands.
Across the street from the railway station is the mini-bus stand that can provide transportation to Pak Barra for the islands as well as many other locations in Thailand and Malaysia. Parallel to the railway station is Asian Highway 2. Asian Highway 18 begins in Hat Yai and runs south along the eastern coast of the Malay peninsula.
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Enjoy sensational, entertaining shows and themed dining options at our karaoke lounge.
- The Swan - Nice atmosphere with books and 2 TVs with UBC. Jack Coke - 60 baht. A slight British Pub feel. On Thanon Thamnoon Vithi Rd. One block from The Pubb.
- Nakorn Nai - A stylish restaurant with free Internet access (WLAN). They serve very tasty western food (Pizza, Pasta, Beef Stroganoff, Breakfast) for reasonable prices.
- Brown Sugar - Just across the street from The Swan, is similar, but with a bit less ambience. Does breakfast. On Thanon Thamnoon Vithi Rd.
- The Pubb - Live music, pool upstairs and decent food. Located downtown.
- The Post Laser Disc - Proclaims "We are mentioned by Lonely Planet". Air-con and pool. Jack Coke 80 baht. Farang hangout. On Thanon Thamnoon Vithi Rd.
- Brass Monkey - Upstairs disco with pool table. Next to Brown Sugar.
- Deep Wonder - Street side and downstair bar. Live music. Across from The Pubb.
- Co Art - A cafe-style place to hang-out in the evening / night. There is a live band almost every day with international well-known cover-songs.
Tarutao National Park
Breathtakingly beautiful islands, only 2 hours to the Pak Barra pier!
Koh Tarutao - Koh Lipe - Koh Adang - Koh Rawi
Trains
Hat Yai Railway Station is the southern hub of trains in Southern Thailand connecting Bangkok to Butterworth and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.
To/from Bangkok: Five trains daily to and from Bangkok. Express trains depart at 16:16, 17:34 and 18:05 while the slower Rapid trains depart at 14:18 and 15:26. Trains go via Surat Thani, Chumphon, Hua Hin etc.
To/from Sungai Kolok: Two trains to Sungai Kolok daily departing at 05:36 and 07:18.
To/from Malaysia: The State Railways of Thailand's International Express leaves Hat Yai for Butterworth near Penang daily at 05:50, going via Padang Besar.
In the other direction, trains leave Butterworth at 13:15 and arrive in Hat Yai at 17:30. The train then continues to Bangkok.
The Senandung Langkawi operated by Keretapi Tanah Melayu (Malayan Railways) departs Hat Yai for Kuala Lumpur daily at 14:50, arriving at KL Sentral at 07:36 the next day.
Trains from Kuala Lumpur depart at 20:45 and arrive in Hat Yai at 10:20 the next day.
The Senandung Langkawi goes via Butterworth and Padang Besar.
Please note that Malaysian time is one hour ahead of Thai time.
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