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Southern Thailand · Songkhla

Hat Yai travel guide: fried chicken, dim sum and the cable car

Hat Yai is the busy commercial hub of the deep south, a city of markets, malls and Chinese, Malay and Thai food that is a magnet for visitors from neighbouring Malaysia. TAT describes neon-lit night markets and a breakfast culture of dim sum, and its fried chicken is famous across Thailand.

AsiaVela editorial teamUpdated 3 min read
The skyline of Hat Yai city spreading across the plain with hills beyond
Hat Yai from above.
Suggested time
1–2 nights
Where to stay
Hat Yai city centre
Season and timing
January to September is usually drier; October to December is the rainy season.

The short answer

Stay one or two nights. Eat dim sum for breakfast and Hat Yai fried chicken with crispy shallots, browse the night markets, and ride Thailand's first cable car up Kho Hong hill in the Municipal Park (open 9:00–16:30). Make a day trip to Songkhla Old Town. Hat Yai International Airport has flights from Bangkok. Check your government's travel advice for the region.

Eating in Hat Yai

TAT explains that breakfast in Hat Yai means dim sum: pick saucers of raw dumplings at a big steamer station and wait for them to be steamed to order.

The city's signature dish is Hat Yai fried chicken (kai thot Hat Yai), marinated with coriander root, garlic and white pepper and buried in crispy fried shallots, served with sticky rice.

Night markets

TAT describes Hat Yai's neon-lit night markets, where locals and visitors from Malaysia shop and eat late into the evening.

Bring cash and an appetite; stalls change through the week.

Stalls and shoppers along a street market on Nipatuthit 3 Road in Hat Yai
A street market on Nipatuthit Road.

Make time for the local food

What to eat and where to look

Trays of fresh vegetables and food at a street market in Hat Yai
Market food in Hat Yai.
01

Hat Yai fried chicken

Chicken marinated with coriander root, garlic and white pepper, topped with fried shallots, as TAT describes.

Where to look
Fried-chicken shops and markets across the city.
Fit it into your day
Lunch with sticky rice.

Shallots are piled high; fried food.

02

Southern dim sum

Dumplings chosen raw and steamed to order, the classic breakfast.

Where to look
Dim sum shops in the city centre.
Fit it into your day
Breakfast from about 7:00.

Popular shops fill early.

03

Night market food

Grilled seafood, Malay-style dishes and sweets.

Where to look
Night markets in the city centre.
Fit it into your day
Dinner.

Busy at weekends.

Municipal Park and the cable car

In Hat Yai Municipal Park, Thailand's first cable car runs 535 metres between two stations on Kho Hong hill, with views over the city and Songkhla Lake and shrines including a large Buddha image and a statue of Brahma, according to the Ministry of Tourism and Sports' directory. It runs daily from 9:00 to 16:30.

Come in the late afternoon for the light over the lake.

A large seated Buddha shrine with offerings in Hat Yai Municipal Park
A shrine in Hat Yai Municipal Park.

Day trip to Songkhla

Songkhla Old Town and Samila beach are a short drive away. See our Songkhla guide for the heritage streets and food.

Minibuses and taxis link the two cities.

View over Hat Yai and the plain from a garden on Kho Hong hill
The view from Kho Hong hill.

Travel advice

Some governments advise against travel to parts of the far south. Check your government's latest advice and your travel insurance before you go.

TAT has promoted visitor confidence in Hat Yai with events such as a Malaysia–Thailand caravan in 2025 and Chinese New Year celebrations in 2026.

The golden-roofed hall of Wat Thawararam above the rooftops of Hat Yai
Wat Thawararam, Hat Yai.

Practical questions

What should I eat in Hat Yai?

Dim sum for breakfast and Hat Yai fried chicken with crispy shallots.

When does the cable car run?

Every day from 9:00 to 16:30, according to the directory.

Is Hat Yai safe to visit?

Check your government's travel advice, which may warn against parts of the far south.

How do I get to Hat Yai?

Fly to Hat Yai International Airport, or take the train or bus.

Sources and checks before you travel

Reference sources for the version dated 1 October 2026. Confirm opening times, access, transport and conditions for your travel dates.

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Photo credits

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