By Bus
From Bangkok: There are daily buses from Bangkok to Songkhla and Hat Yai. The journey takes about 13 hours. For the current schedule and further information contact the Southern Bus Terminal at tel: 02 435 1199-200. For Hat Yai, call the Transport Co., Ltd. (Bo Kho So) at tel: 074 23 2789, 0 7423 2404, Piya Tour 0 7442 8972, Thai Doen Rot 0 7442 9525.

From Hat Yai
From Hat Yai Bus Terminal, there are buses to Bangkok and other provinces in the south. Buses depart from a small bus station located across the ferry station in the city. They include daily 2nd class buses that depart for Bangkok 4 times a day (437 baht). There is also one VIP bus that runs directly to Bangkok departing at 4.45 p.m. with a fare of 870 baht. In addition, first-class buses leave for Bangkok twice daily (562 baht) in late afternoon and in the evening. In addition, there are also buses depart from the same terminal to Chumphon (245 baht), Nakhon Si Thammarat (100 baht) and Surat Thani (150 baht).

Pho Thong Transportation Co., Ltd. (tel. 0 7431 1126) provides bus services from Songkhla to Hat Yai.
Minivans and share taxis normally leave from Ramwithi Road for Hat Yai at the rate of approximately 20-30 baht/person.

Minivans depart from the southern part of Sisuda Road to Pattani and Yala at the rate of 70 baht.
Ranot Transportation Co., Ltd. (tel. 0 7431 1523) operates buses from Songkhla to Nakhon Si Thammarat.

By Train
The State Railway of Thailand provides daily rapid and express train services from Bangkok to Hat Yai. The trains depart from Bangkok's Hua Lumphong Railway Station at 12.25 p.m., 2.20 p.m., 2.45 p.m., 3.50 p.m. and 10.50 p.m. Travel time is about 17 hours. For further information call 1690, 0 2223 7020, 0 2223 7030 or Hat Yai Railway Station at 0 7424 3705, 0 7423 8005

By Air
Thai Airways International has several daily flights connecting Bangkok and Phuket with Hat Yai. For more information, contact their Bangkok office at tel. 1566, 0 2280 0060, 0 2628 2000, their Hat Yai office at tel. 0 7424 5851-2.

Air Asia operates several daily flights on route Bangkok Hat Yai. The flight time is 1.20 hours. Call 02 5159999 for more information.

Orient Thai provides three daily flights connecting Bangkok and Hat Yai. The flight time is 1.25 hours. Call 1126 to make reservations.

Nok Air operates three daily flights between Bangkok and Hat Yai. The flight time is 1.30 hours. Call 1318 for reservations.

Phuket Air offers a daily flight connecting Hat Yai and Phuket. The flight time is 1.25 hours. Call 02 679 8999 for reservations.

Getting around the city
Songthaews around the city would cost 10 baht / trip. Motorcycle taxis around town cost between 10 baht and 20 baht (daytime). There are several guesthouses in town that provide bicycle and motorcycle rental services at the rate of approximately 100 baht / day and 200 baht / day respectively.

Thamboon Duen Sip Festival
Celebrated by the Buddhists of the South, the Merit Making on the Tenth Lunar Month festival originates from the belief that during the waxing moon of the month, souls of the deceased ancestors are allowed a period of freedom to visit their living relatives. It is the duty of the living to prepare food and bring it to the temple to make merit, In Sathing Phra, tall figurines representing venerable elders respected by the villagers parade along together in the procession.

Lark Phra and Tak Bat Devo
The festival is celebrated by residents of Songkhla on the first day of the waxing moon in the 11th lunar month (around October) in Songkhla town. The festival starts one day early with the robing of the pagoda on the top of Khao Tang Kuan. Early in the morning of the festival day, hundreds gather on the hill and proceed down the stairs to receive offerings from the faithful. Late morning is the scene of processions of artistically decorated vehicles with Buddha statue from temples in and around Songkhla. The vehicles are paraded around the town and the faithful make merits by joining the procession. Finally the decorated vehicles gather at Sra Bua (The Lotus Pond) for competition.

Bull Fighting
Bull fighting is a traditionally popular sport among the people in the South. Unlike bull fighting in Spain where a matador fights with a bull, the bull fighting of the South features a bull fighting another bull. A pair of fighting bulls is led into the arena for each bout where spectators can cheer and place bets. During the fight, specially trained bulls lock horns until one decides to call it quits and runs away. Each bout normally takes between 15 to 30 minutes.

Dove Singing Contest
Cooing doves are popular among Southerners, particularly residents of the five Southern provinces of Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, Satun and Songkhla. The most sought after birds are from breeding farms in Chana District, approximately 40 kilometers from Hat Yai District on Highway 408, where dove lovers from neighboring countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore flock to purchase the birds. Dove cooing competitions are held annually between January and July. Criteria used in judging the quality of dove's sound is based on pitch, melody, volume, and continuity in its singing.

Provided by Tourism Authority of Thailand
 

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