Khlong Hae Floating Market

Khlong Hae Floating Market runs Friday through Sunday evenings on a canal in Tambon Khlong Hae, about 8km northwest of central Hat Yai in Songkhla province, opposite Wat Khlong Hae. It’s one of the few floating markets in Thailand that operates almost entirely after dark. Entry is free, with hours running roughly 15:00 to 21:00 across the three open days.

Wooden longtail boats line the canal selling southern Thai curries, grilled seafood, and sweets cooked aboard floating kitchens, alongside vendors on the bank selling fresh fruit, coffee, and handicrafts. Most food items cost 20-100 THB, so it’s an easy place to graze rather than commit to a sit-down meal. Small bridges over the canal give good vantage points for photos once the string lights and boat lanterns come on.

The pace here is unhurried compared to Bangkok’s better-known floating markets — Friday evenings especially, before the weekend crowds build. Local families come to shop for groceries as much as to sightsee, so it feels more like a neighbourhood market that happens to run on water than a staged tourist attraction. Insider Tip: Friday’s the quiet night; if you want the canal to yourself, skip Saturday and Sunday evenings.

Watch out: the market is closed Monday through Thursday with nothing to see on the canal — check the day of the week before making the trip out from Hat Yai. Bring small-denomination cash, since most boat vendors aren’t set up for cards.

It’s a straightforward taxi or Grab ride from central Hat Yai, and parking is available near the canal for anyone driving. Combine it with Hatyai City Park in the daytime or Kim Yong Market for daytime shopping in the city centre.