Hat Yai

Hat Yai is a city that never seems to sit still. Buzzing with energy day and night, this southern Thai city is a place where traders, travelers, and food lovers all come together. Its location near the Malaysian border means it has grown into a major meeting point for people and cultures, giving it a lively, international feel that you can sense the moment you arrive.

The city is packed with incredible things to see and taste. You can ride a cable car up to a gleaming golden Buddha that watches over the whole city, or step inside a temple to stand beside one of the longest reclining Buddha statues on Earth — so big it’s almost hard to believe! When evening falls, street markets come alive with the sizzle of grilled seafood and mountains of tropical fruit.

Hat Yai also has a wild side. Just outside the city, a jungle sanctuary is home to elephants, tigers, and exotic birds — and somewhere nearby, bulls are squaring off against each other in one of Thailand’s most unusual traditional sports!