Hat Yai Travel Forum

Re: Chinese New Year in Hat Yai
Posted: Sun September 16, 2007 10:29 AM UTC
I would advise caution in going to Hat Yai for Chinese New Year. There is still a lot of unrest going on down there, although we'll see what happens post-Ramadan to see whether the curfews will remain lifted and peace returns.


Hi
This is my 1st trip to hat yai can someone help thank alot......
Like Tina-Perth say above will i have any problem going on hari raya it self is there, anything that i should do or not to do cause i going with my family. How is the situation there right now. Is there any problem at songkhla.

This is a long holiday weekend for Malaysia. So hotels, transportation may get be crowded. Hatyai has a large Thai Chinese population who are mainly Buddhists and so shops should be open for tourist business. Songkhla is just a seaside town less than half hour by road. Personally, I would avoid due to security factor and holiday crowd.

To be honest, nobody can say for sure if it is safe to go to Hatyai now. There are still unrest situation in the deep south. Bombings still happened from time to time in Songklha and Hatyai too. I was in Hatyai in July and August, nothing happened there. However, downtown Hatyai is certainly less corwded these days. Less tourists roaming around the streets of Hatyai now. The tourism industry is affected badly by the situation. You have to decide for yourself. Personally, if you want to see the 'real' Thailand, Hatyai is not the place to go.

Thank for all the reply...

What are other alternatives since i bought the air ticket to hat yai aready is there, any where to travel somewhere safe cause there will be toddlers age 3.

there have been reports of bombings in 2007 in hat yai in the local (thai press) so NOT 100% safe!!

but i suppose same risk as london which has quite a high risk of bombings as well considering the last few years. you always take a risk travelling. I ahve travelled through hat yai myself but was aware of the risk beforehand and considered it an acceptable risk but did have good medical insurance just in case!

The bombings in Hat Yai, Yala and other southern provinces have been far more frequent than those in London, albeit they aren't as big.

Can you not change the destiny of your flight? If not, Satun and Phattalung are both wonderful provinces, 'though there won't be much going on for Chinese New Year.

From Hatyai, you can travel to Krabi (4 hours by bus), Phattalung (1.5 hours by bus), Phuket (6 hours on the road), Satun (to Koh Tarutao)

Krabi and Koh Tarutao are great if you love the beach and ocean. But i'm not sure about your toddler.

Phattalung is quiet little town. If you like to visit non-touristy places, this is a good place to go. Relaxed atmosphere, but nothing much to do at night.

Phuket is good. It has beach, party scene (not for your kid, I guess), a temple, shopping (?), etc.

Perhaps you should check to change your air ticket to somewhere else, like Phuket or Bangkok?

If you go to Phattalung, you have to go to Thale Noi, one of the most beautiful places in Thailand. It is a 28 km2 lake that is filled with all types of lillies. You can cruise through it on a long tail boat. There is some information on my pages if you're interested. There is also the amazing Phuphapahet Cave, the biggest cave in Thailand, 7th largest in the world, if you're into nature, that is.

Thanks.....to everyone that reply questions.