What You Need To Know
Hat Yai , also Haad Yai or Had Yai) is a city in southern Thailand near the Malaysianborder. Located at 7°1′N 100°28′E , it is 946 km (588 mi) south of Bangkok, and has a population of Estimate 172,374 in the city itself and about 800,000 in the greater Hat Yai area. Hat Yai is the largest city of Songkhla Province, the largest metropolitan area in the south, and the third largest metropolitan area of the country. It is often mistaken for being the provincial capital. In fact, Songkhla is the capital and the center of administration and culture while Hat Yai is the business center.
Population: Estimate 172,374
Area: 21 km²
Currency
Culture
An important Buddhist temple is Hat Yai Nai Temple or Wat Hat Yai Nai. It is home to the third largest reclining statue on the planet. People travel from all over Thailand just to pay respect to this statue. Held on the first night of October, Chak Phra is a Buddhist festival specific to the south of Thailand. It is celebrated with Buddha boat processions or sports events like a run up Khao Tang Kuan hill. In September or October at the Chinese Lunar festival, the Thai and Chinese present their offerings to the moon, “queen of the heavens”, in gratitude for past and future fortunes. One of the southern temple,well known for Jatukam,nine faces deity pray. Hatyai 118 Jatukam temple. Unnamed Rd,Tambon Khuan Lang, Amphoe Hat Yai, Chang Wat Songkhla 90110, Thailand
Demographics
Demographically, Hat Yai is notable for a higher proportion of Malay-Muslim and Thai Chinese citizens than other cities of comparable size in other regions of Thailand. The population of Hat Yai was 157,359 as of 2008, ranked 4th in the country after Bangkok, Nonthaburi, and Pak Kret.
Language
Thai, Central Thai, or Siamese, is the national and official language of Thailand and the first language of the Thai people and the vast majority of ThaiChinese.
Southern violence
As the major economic center of lower southern Thailand, Hat Yai has increasingly become a target of terrorism in the separatist campaign conducted by the Patani United Liberation Organisation and similar radical groups. On April 3, 2005, bomb attacks were carried out at a Carrefour Hypermarket and Hat Yai International Airport, killing two and injuring dozens. On September 16, 2006 a series of bomb attacks killed four and injured more than 70. Although no group has claimed responsibility, local separatists are presumed to be responsible. On March 31, 2012, a car bomb exploded in the Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel, killing at least 5 and injuring hundreds. Both Thai nationals and Malaysian tourists were among the victims. The Royal Thai Army believes that members of the Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN) group carried out the terrorist attack. On May 6, 2014, two bombs exploded in front of a convenience store and a police station, injuring 9 people.
Transport
Hat Yai Junction has become the transportation hub of southern Thailand since the railway was constructed. One of the largest railway stations in the south, Hat Yai Railway Station is an international railway station which handles 28 passenger trains per day, including 26 trains served by State Railway of Thailand and 2 trains served by KTMB of Malaysia. Hat Yai is also the hub for local train services in southern Thailand. Parallel to the railway line is the Asian highway 2. Asian highway 18 originates in Hat Yai and runs south along the east coast of the Malay peninsula. Hat Yai Bus Terminal is a major transport hub in southern Thailand. It offers bus services that link Hat Yai with nearly every town and city in the southern region as well as other destinations, including Bangkok and Nakhon Ratchasima. Hat Yai also has a minibus terminal which hosts the largest minibus service in southern Thailand. There are also several private minibus services which focus on tourist destinations, including Phuket, Ko Samui, Ko Pha Ngan, Pak Bara Peer in Satun (a gateway to the islands in the southern Andaman Sea), Langkawi, Penang, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore. The minibus service has gained popularity in recent years as minibuses are considered a faster way to travel.
Weather
Hat Yai has a tropical climate, which is hot and humid, like other parts of Thailand. Hat Yai has only two seasons; wet and dry. The wet season, which is influenced by monsoon and rain storms, is from May to December, while the dry season is only from January to April. Additionally, there have been occasional floods in Hat Yai due to the heavy rain; it can rain for twenty-two days in November with more than 317 mm of precipitation.
