As the largest metropolitan area of southern Thailand, Hat Yai serves as a significant commercial and business centre, drawing travellers and tourists in pursuit of leisure and business on a year-round basis. As a shopping and entertainment haven, Hat Yai offers a long list of things to see and do, whether for the solo traveller or the entire family, boredom is hard to come by in this cosmopolitan city.
Without doubt Hat Yai is a shopper’s dream. In fact, there’s no better place to go shopping anywhere south of Bangkok. There are at least four large shopping malls including: Lee Garden Plaza, Odean Shopping Mall, Diana Shopping Mall, and Central Department Store, as well as Tesco Lotus and Carefour superstores. Together with various street-side vendors and stalls found in the two main markets – Si Kimyong and Sunthisuk, there’s not much you won’t be able to find! For local handicrafts and souvenirs as well as daily featured cultural shows, be sure to visit the Southern Cultural Village in Hat Yai Municipal Park 6 kms from the city centre on Kanchanavanit road.
No matter what hour of day or night you’ll find an eclectic selection of food to delight all taste buds in Hat Yai. Local cuisine, usually found in roadside stalls, markets and shop houses is comprised of Muslim, Chinese and Thai foods with some Malay influences. There is also a wide range of regional and western fare available including hotel buffets, top quality seafood, shark fin, sushi platters, steak houses, and street side made to order grills. Of course, you’ll find all your favourite fast food delights such as KFC and Macdonalds, and then some in the shopping centres. You certainly won’t go hungry in Hat Yai!
Together with shopping, the main attraction of Hat Yai is its nightlife. Ever popular among weekenders from Singapore and Malaysia, as well as Thai and Western visitor, most people should have no problem finding kicks to suit their late night tastes in Hat Yai. With heaps of live music venues, beer gardens, karaoke, cafés, bars, pubs, discos, and local style dance clubs, Hat Yai caters to all.
