







Shopping is another big attraction, Hat Yai has several modern department stores and hundreds of street stalls. Hat Yai offers many good buys in Thai handicrafts, food, electrical appliances, cosmetics and clothing.

UNBEATABLE TRIP TO THAILAND-HAT YAI
At A Glance
From the airport, the border of Thailand is a skip away. Hatyai, the third largest city of Thailand is an hour and a half's drive and about 70 km from the border. An important commercial and education centre, Hatyai is also a shopping haven and promises exciting nightlife. Lacking, though, are historical monuments, except for the third largest statue of a reclined Buddha in Thailand. The Buddha is 35 metres in length and 15 metres in height.
Attraction
The Central Market has a wide selection of Thai handicrafts, and the Wat Matchimawat is definitely worth a visit - it has been in Songkhla for more than 400 years. Another architecture of interest is the Songkhla National Museum, a typical southern-Thai design with Chinese influence. The structure was built over 130 years ago and was owned by a rich Chinese merchant. Still close to the capital, the Great Songkhla Lake is the largest inland lake in the kingdom. Two wildfowl sanctuaries have been created along the shores where visitors can view thousands of birds in the late afternoon.
Shopping
Hatyai is a great place to shop for cheap but trendy fashion. Niphat-Uthit Roads 1, 2 and 3 have clothing, fun gadgets and handicrafts for sale. To date, Hatyai Plaza is the largest shopping centre with specialist shops and a food court on the highest floor. Thai delicacies can be relished at very affordable prices here. For more traditional offerings, Kim Yong Market is a great place to shop.