Welcome to Hat Yai

Most people thinking of heading to Thailand think of Bangkok, Chiang Mai in the north or one of the picturesque islands in the south. Few think of the second largest city in Thailand which is Hat Yai, located on the border of Thailand and Malaysia. This large Thai city is interesting in that it is an amalgamation of cultures, mainly Thai, Muslim and Chinese, which brings a certain charm and interest to the city that you won’t get elsewhere in Thailand.

The fact that Hat Yai lies on the border with Malaysia means that there are many Malays who come here for shopping, tourism and nightlife. This large influx of visitors and settlers from Malaysia have combined to give Hat Yai its unique flavor. You are just as likely to hear Chinese spoken here as Thai and there are a large number of both Chinese and Muslim restaurants if eating is your thing.

Because of the proximity to Malaysia and Singapore you can also find a fairly sizeable number of expats who have made Hat Yai their home. They have brought their cuisines with them so finding European and American restaurants is almost as easy as finding Thai or Chinese restaurants. Hat Yai truly is a melting pot of humanity, which by itself makes it unique among Thai cities.

HatYai was once quite popular as a jumping off point for the famed Thai visa run, where long term expats in Thailand would come to make a quick trip across the border into Malaysia for the purposes of renewing their visa. This has changed due to recent changes in the visa laws of Thailand, but many of the expats still remain.

While some complain that Hat Yai is more expensive than other areas of Thailand this is not completely true. The tourist areas and Bangkok are far more expensive and in fact, many of the Malaysians coming to Hat Yai do so for the excellent bargains to be had shopping here. So, it is very possible to live in Hat Yai cheaply or to visit on a budget.

If you are in southern Thailand then a stop in HatYai could be very fun and enlightening for you. It could also make a very nice stopover on a land based trip down through Malaysia and onward to Singapore if you aren’t in any hurry. If nothing else, you are sure to be surprised by this melting pot of a Thai city.

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