Hat yai LIFE
Hat Yai is the largest city in Songkhla Province and one of the largest cities in Thailand as well. But still, Hat Yai is not yet well-known underneath the average western traveler. Hat Yai is a popular travel destination for Malaysians and Singaporeans.
In Hat Yai, groups of 3 different backgrounds live together in peace. This makes the city a diverse and open-minded place to spend life at. The majority of Hat Yai’s people has one of three different backgrounds: Thai Buddhist, Chinese heritage or Thai Muslim. The diversity of it’s people is also shown in the food. Hat Yai is well-known throughout entire Thailand for it’s good food. Famous are various Chinese noodle soups and Dim Sum, popular Thai stir-fried dishes as well as Muslim Roti and a whole bunch of flavorful curries. Some foods that Hat Yai is known for is ‘Hat Yai fried chicken” (ไก่ทอดหาดใหญ่-gai tod hat yai), as well as Chinese influenced Dim Sum and Bao buns (ซาลาเปา-salabao). Don’t be too afraid of food poisoning, the longer the queue at a food shop – the fresher is the food. Not only Hat Yai’s food scene is interesting, lately there has been more and more chill and cozy coffee shops offering standard as well as trendy assortments. There are many coffee shops near PSU campus that are worth checking out. For everyone who likes to try a variety of different local foods and snacks, night markets like Makinta, Klong-Hae Floating Market, Greenway and Asean are to suggest.
Hat Yai offers many choices for trips and sightseeing both natural and cultural. Following are the most famous places to visit in Hat Yai.
Culture & Religion
At Wat Hat Yai Nai you can see the reclining Buddha, similar to Wat Pho in Bangkok.
The Hat Yai Municipal Park is on top of a mountain which offers you a wonderful view over Hat Yai. Municipal Park also has a cable car station – the only one in Thailand - from there you can drive to the Elephant Temple (Brahman Shrine).
Furthermore, you can visit Phra Buddha Mongkol Maharaj with its very huge Buddha statue.
At the rear of the campus is Phra Mahathat Chedi Traipop Traimongkhon, a unique temple which is completely made of stainless steel.
Really famous in Hat Yai is except the Buddhist Temples also the Hat Yai Central Mosque. The mosque is also a popular spot to take photos because of it's similarity to the Taj Mahal in India.
Markets
Greenway Market is a huge night market where you can buy clothes, jewelry and food.
On the other side of the same street you can find HY Square, also a night market which offers live music in the evening. If you want to see a special market you have to visit the Klong-Hae Floating Market where the food is cooked and selled out of boats.
Day trips
Samila Beach is close enough for a one day trip. There you’ll see the famous little mermaid you find in Copenhagen, Denmark too.
Connect your stay at Samila Beach with a walk through the Oldtown of Songkla. Enjoy the street art there and visit the night market on the main street in the evening.
Ton Nga Chang waterfall and national park is a great place for all nature lovers and also a nice location for having a picnic.