hat yai or bangkok?
Both are Thai trips built around shopping and food, which is why they come up together. Hat Yai is the close, easy one, a drive across the border from the north, while Bangkok is the big city with far more to see, eat and buy.
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
bangkok
Dear group chat,Boat noodles, night markets and a mall for every mood.Read the guide →To: whoever’s drivingBangkokTH, Bangkok
- From KL
- hat yaiAbout 450 km
- bangkokAbout 1,190 km
- Best months
- hat yaiAll year
- bangkokNov–Feb
- Vibe
- hat yaiBusy border city made for weekend shoppers
- bangkokHuge capital with temples, malls and nightlife
- Food
- hat yaiHat Yai fried chicken, dim sum, night markets
- bangkokBoat noodles, Yaowarat street food, food halls
- Getting there
- hat yaiDrive across the border, or a short flight
- bangkokAbout 2 hours' flight from KL
- Sights
- hat yaiMarkets, a hilltop cable car, a Songkhla day trip
- bangkokGrand Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Arun and the river
- How long
- hat yai2–3 days
- bangkok3–4 days
- Best for
- hat yaiA road trip with family or friends
- bangkokA first proper Thailand city trip
Go hat yai if…
- you want to drive rather than fly
- you're after a quick weekend of shopping and makan
- you live up north, so the border is close
- Hat Yai fried chicken and dim sum breakfasts are the plan
Go bangkok if…
- you want temples and palaces, not just markets
- you have three or four days to fill
- you'd like more choice of food, malls and nightlife
- you'd rather fly than deal with a border crossing by car
The verdict
From KL, Bangkok is usually the better trip: the flight isn't much longer and there's far more to do. Hat Yai makes sense if you're driving up from the north or want a cheaper, easier weekend. Can't decide? First trip to Thailand, go Bangkok; short on time and happy to drive, Hat Yai lah.