Hat Yai

Hat Yai

Hat Yai (Thai: หาดใหญ่; also Haad Yai / Had Yai) is a city in southern Thailand near the boundary to Malaysia. Geographical location 7°1′N, 100°28′E. With a population of 157,359 (2008) in the core city and about 800,000 in the Greater Hat Yai, Hat Yai is the biggest city of the Songkhla Province and the largest metropolitan area in Southern Thailand, and is thus often mistaken as being the capital of the province. However Songkhla is the capital, unlike the other provinces where the capital is the biggest city of the province. The city covers the whole tambon Hat Yai of Hat Yai district. Both cities are a part of Greater Hatyai-Songkhla Metropolitan Area.

The name "Hat Yai" is a short version of "Ma Hat Yai", meaning big Ma Hat (Thai: มะหาด) tree.

Transportation

The city is served by the Hat Yai International Airport.

Hat Yai Railway Station, the largest station is an international railway station in Southern Thailand. It handles 28 passenger trains per day (26 trains served by State Railway of Thailand and 2 trains (Ekspres Langkawi) are served by KTMB of Malaysia. It is also the hub of local trains in Southern Thailand.

Also parallel to the railway is the Asian highway 2. Asian highway 18 begins in Hat Yai and runs south along the eastern coast of the Malay peninsula.

Demographics

Demographically, Hat Yai is notable for a higher proportion of Islamic and ethnic Chinese citizens than other cities of comparable size in the northern regions of Thailand.

History of Hat Yai

Formerly Hatyai Sukhaphiban, a small local administration form, with its main office currently at the public library, Hatyai Subdistrict Municipality was officially established on 11 December 1935 under the administration of first mayor Udom Bunlong, covering the area of 4.4 sq. km. Its temporary office was past of Immigration Office, currently Songkhla Immigration Office, Hatyai Police Station and Police Residence.

It was until 1937 when a new 2-storey public health building was constructed opposite the immigration office and was completed in 1938. Its first floor was the municipal office while the second was the public health center.

Later in the administration of mayor Piti Chawapong, with the growth of population and economy, Hatyai Subdistrict Municipality was promoted to be Hatyai Municipality on 16 March 1949 with its subsequent growth. Then, on 10 May 1961, the municipality area was expanded to 8 sq. km.

Due to its growing municipal officers and public services, mayor Komes Intawong and his municipal councilors proposed and constructed a new municipal office building at 445 Petchakasem Road, Hatyai, Songkhla with a 5 million baht loan for a land purchase and a 4,864,000 baht municipal budget for the construction cost and it was completed on 22 March 1968.

The building was officially open on 13 August 1968. Since then, the municipality development has continued greatly. The second municipal area expansion was undertaken from 8 sq. km. to 21 sq. km. on 24 April 1977. It was in 1995 during the administration of mayor Khreng Suwannawong when the municipality was promoted to be Hatyai Municipality with its growing revenue and population.

Currently, with its population of 157, 316, Hatyai Municipality covers 21 sq. km. bordering Klong Hae Subdistrict on the north, Khor Hong Subdistrict on the south and the east, and Khuan Lang Subdistrict on the west. The municipal development has been witnessed since its first stage and its growth will be continuing with its high potentialities.

Other Link

- Chumphon
- Koh Tao
- Koh Phangan
- Koh Samui
- Ranong