hat yai or penang?
Both are classic trips up north for food and a bit of shopping, so they often come up in the same chat. Penang is a heritage city with hawker food and no border to cross, while Hat Yai is a taste of Thailand, with markets, fried chicken and shopping at friendly prices.
hat yai
Dear group chat,The classic road trip north: Hat Yai fried chicken, night markets and shopping.Read the guide →To: whoever’s drivingHat YaiTH, Songkhla
george town
Dear group chat,Street art, clan jetties and a different hawker dinner every night.Read the guide →To: whoever’s drivingGeorge TownMY, Penang
- From KL
- hat yaiAbout 450 km
- penangAbout 290 km
- Best months
- hat yaiAll year
- penangAll year
- Vibe
- hat yaiBusy Thai market city for shopping and eating
- penangHeritage city with street art and temples
- Food
- hat yaiFried chicken, dim sum, night market skewers
- penangChar kway teow, assam laksa, nasi kandar
- Getting there
- hat yaiAbout 1 hour 15 minutes' flight, or drive via the border
- penangAbout 4 hours' drive, the ETS and ferry, or a flight
- Paperwork
- hat yaiPassport; car papers and Thai insurance to drive
- penangNone; it's a trip within Malaysia
- Sights
- hat yaiMarkets, a hilltop Guanyin, Songkhla's beach
- penangClan jetties, Khoo Kongsi, Penang Hill
- Best for
- hat yaiShopping trips and a first taste of Thailand
- penangFood lovers who like to explore on foot
Go hat yai if…
- the group wants to shop as much as eat
- you'd like a trip abroad without a long flight
- you want Hat Yai fried chicken and an evening at a floating market
- you're already up north and the border is close
Go penang if…
- you don't want to deal with a border crossing
- heritage streets, murals and clan houses are your thing
- you want a different hawker dinner every night
- you'd rather take the train than drive or fly
The verdict
Penang is the easier trip, with no border or paperwork, and it has more to see. Hat Yai feels like a proper trip abroad and its markets beat Penang for shopping, but driving there takes some planning. Can't decide? For a first road trip north, go Penang; if the group mainly wants to shop, fly to Hat Yai.