tourists entering Thailand They generally choose to make a stop in Bangkok or Chiang Mai before continuing to one of their many islands: Phuket, Koh Samui, Krabi. However, there is a city that, outside the classic circuits, deserves to be discovered: it is Hat Yaic, and it is ideal for one low cost vacation.
Cheaper and less hectic than Bangkok, Hat Yai is not far from the Malaysian border and is the most populated center of the province of Songjla. Here is the Wat Hat Yai Nai, the Buddhist temple complex that houses the third largest reclining Buddha statue in the world. Here lies the splendid Songkhla Central MoscowAnd. Here, 25 kilometers from the city, are the spectacular Cascada Ton Nga.
Tourists here come mainly from Malaysia and Singapore, attracted by the natural beauty of the area in which it is located. But, despite not being a metropolis, the absence of Western tourists is a bit surprising: the city is full of fashionable rooftop, luxury hotel y Economical but super chic solutions.. In Hat Yai, for three days, you can spend less than 150 euros: just think that a plate of Pad Thai costs 70 cents, the famous mango stick does not even cost 30 and for a tuk-tuk ride 50 is enough.
The cuisine here is truly extraordinary and is an incredible mix of influences. Me too day markets They are unmissable: they are less crowded than those in Bangkok, they are colorful and lively. Khlong Hae Floating Market is a beautiful floating market open on weekends. Kim Yong Market (off Supasarnrangsan Road) is a triumph of grilled meats, tropical fruits, clothing and crafts.
Then there are, in Hat Yai, chaotic night markets where to buy and taste local street food: the Asean Night Bazaar looks like a festival, the Greenway Night Market is a gastronomic paradise, where for just over a euro you can taste authentic delicacies.
But it is enough to get away from the city a little to understand why this city is destined to grow more and more in the preferences of tourists. He Cae Ton Nga Chang They are just outside the center and can be reached by scooter or tuk-tuk. And although most visitors choose to go down, where the water collides with the cliffs, only by venturing to the top can you enjoy the spectacle of the surrounding vegetation.
Finally, in Hat Yai it is very simple. get to the beaches: there is the famous Playa Samila, with the statue of the little mermaid and a five-minute drive from Khao Kao Saen, a park and fishing village with a temple at the back, open to the public for worshipers and tourists to take a leisurely stroll. And then there are the splendid coves overlooking a turquoise sea. For a decidedly unusual holiday in Thailand.
