Many Malaysian tourists who cross the border for a day or overnight trip frequent the Khlong Hae Floating Market in Hat Yai, Thailand.
At this unique floating market, you can find many kinds of local Thai food, snacks, and drinks sold by local Thai hawkers on little boats that dock by the river. The food here is also Halal for Muslim travellers.
Khlong Hae Floating Market in Hat Yai
The beauty of the Hat Yai floating market is that the hawkers line up side by side and number about 100 boats at any one time. Each of them sells its own unique local food dish or drinks.
It is recommended that you visit this place at about 6.00 pm, and you can witness these boats that paddle in to set up their floating shop. Once they finish selling their items, they row away with the day's takings.
Khlong Hae Floating Market in Hat Yai
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| Visitors buy a bamboo drink from a vendor. |
It is recommended that you visit this place at about 6.00 pm, and you can witness these boats that paddle in to set up their floating shop. Once they finish selling their items, they row away with the day's takings.
Mobile Karaoke at the Floating Market in Hatyai.
On arrival at the Floating Market in Hat Yai, the first thing that greeted me was a mobile karaoke station where anyone could sing for 10 Baht. This was a hit with the locals, and the music continued throughout my visit.
The Khlonghae Floating Market is situated by a river and divided into three sections. A general area where stalls are stationed on land with seating areas, and the main boat hawkers are stationed by the river and across the bridge on the ground.
While the tourists will flock to the riverside for the fantastic experience of buying food from the floating food boats, the locals mostly hang out at the main bazaar area. There are places to sit and eat here.
Most visitors will easily walk 30 to 45 minutes from boat to boat by the riverside. This is a must-do as so many different types of food are being sold here.
After buying your food and drinks, you can either stand and eat or move to the seated area in the food bazaar area.
While the tourists will flock to the riverside for the fantastic experience of buying food from the floating food boats, the locals mostly hang out at the main bazaar area. There are places to sit and eat here.
Most visitors will easily walk 30 to 45 minutes from boat to boat by the riverside. This is a must-do as so many different types of food are being sold here.
After buying your food and drinks, you can either stand and eat or move to the seated area in the food bazaar area.
Customers dealing with boat traders.
At the floating market of Hat Yai, almost everything sold is priced from 20 to 30 Thai Baht per dish. Drinks, desserts, snacks, and food are all local Thai delicacies, and they are Halal (Pork-Free), so Muslims can eat here as well. Most of the vendors are Thai Muslims, too.
On my visit here, I noticed how the boat hawkers went about trading where the sellers would be sitting in their boats; you simply tell them what and how many you want, and they will serve it with a long bamboo stick stretched out to you. Money is then placed at the end of the stick, and a sale is made.
On my visit here, I noticed how the boat hawkers went about trading where the sellers would be sitting in their boats; you simply tell them what and how many you want, and they will serve it with a long bamboo stick stretched out to you. Money is then placed at the end of the stick, and a sale is made.
This was my first floating market visit, and I must admit it was such a great experience, especially trying out the various Southern Thai foods. Funny enough, 95% of the traders were women.
There must have been about 80-100 boats selling all sorts of foods while a couple of them sold souvenirs, and it was relatively cheap in terms of tourism standards.
There must have been about 80-100 boats selling all sorts of foods while a couple of them sold souvenirs, and it was relatively cheap in terms of tourism standards.
Khlong Hae Floating Market Photos
Below are random photos taken at the floating market during my visit here, and they show the simple life of the traders.
Freshly grilled prawns on a stick.
Thai noodles with chilli and pickles.
One unique feature was that some boat hawkers sell drinks in custom-made bamboo cups or porcelain containers. I could not help but order one from one of the beautiful ladies.
A long bamboo about 12 inches long was cleaned and had a rope secured at the top for you to hold. The choice of orange or lemon was served inside, and you could carry it around the floating market.
A long bamboo about 12 inches long was cleaned and had a rope secured at the top for you to hold. The choice of orange or lemon was served inside, and you could carry it around the floating market.
Thai-style dim sum.
Prawn cakes cut into calamari style.
Various Thai noodles are found here.
Chicken Briyani Thai style was very different and exciting.
A selection of Thai snacks and food was bought there.
Thai spicy seafood soup noodles in coconut.
Boat hawkers with signs.
Thai fish cakes are my personal favourite here.
The main food market at Khlonghae.
Khlonghae Food Market
On the ground side of the floating market, various stalls are permanent fixtures selling items, from food, drinks, souvenirs and clothes. There are about 100 stalls here, so you can take your time and browse these stalls.
Some of the items sold here are not found in the floating section of the market, and prices vary according to what you buy. Interesting souvenirs, which could be great gifts, are mostly found in this market area.
If you venture across the bridge to the other side of the Floating Market, cultural shows and other stalls sell various items. It is also a great place to take photos of the Hat Yai floating market, as shown in the image below.
Some of the items sold here are not found in the floating section of the market, and prices vary according to what you buy. Interesting souvenirs, which could be great gifts, are mostly found in this market area.
If you venture across the bridge to the other side of the Floating Market, cultural shows and other stalls sell various items. It is also a great place to take photos of the Hat Yai floating market, as shown in the image below.
Floating Market in Hat Yai, Thailand
Again, this was a totally unexpected surprise for me, as I assumed it was a simple floating market. However, I was very impressed with the overall layout and selections here. This is totally different if you have been to other floating markets in Bangkok.
Modernization also unspoiled this place, where you see how the locals trade here. I thank you for going out to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) for this trip, and I look forward to visiting this fantastic place in the future.
For those heading to Hat Yai from the Malaysian border, make sure you have time to visit this place. Most tour packages to Hat Yai include this package in the itinerary.
How to go to the Floating Market in Hat Yai?
Modernization also unspoiled this place, where you see how the locals trade here. I thank you for going out to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) for this trip, and I look forward to visiting this fantastic place in the future.
For those heading to Hat Yai from the Malaysian border, make sure you have time to visit this place. Most tour packages to Hat Yai include this package in the itinerary.
How to go to the Floating Market in Hat Yai?
To get to the Khlong Hae Floating Market, you can ask for tour companies, taxis in town, or any ride-hailing services in Hat Yai.
This market is located about four kilometres from Hat Yai (หาดใหญ่) in the Tambon Khlonghae district and is only open from Friday to Sunday, 1.00 pm to 9.00 pm.
Most of the food at the floating market vendors is sold by Thai Muslims. Therefore, it is all Halal. But you may need to double check the food bazaar on the land.
This market is located about four kilometres from Hat Yai (หาดใหญ่) in the Tambon Khlonghae district and is only open from Friday to Sunday, 1.00 pm to 9.00 pm.
Most of the food at the floating market vendors is sold by Thai Muslims. Therefore, it is all Halal. But you may need to double check the food bazaar on the land.
Conclusion
For those visiting this southern region, usually, you will spend at least three days and two nights here. I also wrote a list of where to go in Hat Yai for those who need more information.
There is also no doubt that the most popular thing to do is to visit the Khlong Hae Floating Market in Hat Yai, Thailand. This is one of the must-do things when you are here on a weekend.