The Hat Yai Blue Songthaew is a common sight around the ring road around downtown Hat Yai, and is a frequent service between Hat Yai Bus Terminal 1 and Hat Yai Airport based on most travel guides. Reading up on the internet, I decided to try out the Hat Yai Blue Songthaew to the city, and learnt not everything on the internet is true.
The Hat Yai Blue Songthaew between between Hat Yai Bus Terminal 1 and Hat Yai Airport is numbered 8299.
Hat Yai Blue Songthaews pick up passengers from outside Hat Yai Bus Terminal 1 near to the Hat Yai Airport Minibus platform.
Hopping on board the first Blue Songthaew 8438 in the queue after checking with the driver that he does indeed go to Kim Yong Market. But little did I know that this is not the “Blue Songthaew” that the internet talk about.
More Blue Songthaews parked at the taxi stand.
The Blue Songthaew behind mine is the actual Blue Songthaew 8299 between between Hat Yai Bus Terminal 1 and Hat Yai Airport.
U-turning from the taxi stand for departure.
Passing by ASEAN Plaza.
The road into ASEAN Night Bazaar.
Via the ring road, Kim Yong Market is about 4km away by Songthaew.
Passing by Greenway Night Market.
So this is how pick-up trucks are converted to whatever function they need to be.
Passing by Wat Khok Nao.
Making a brief stop at Tesco Lotus Hatyai.
The Songthaew stopped in the Tesco Lotus Hatyai Songthaew bay for a while to wait for other passengers.
Turning left at Ko Hong Junction.
Heading down Phet Kasem Road.
Making a brief stop opposite Big C Extra Hatyai 2.
Passing through the Phetkasem Roundabout.
Making a brief stop opposite the Hat Yai Clock Tower.
When planning to stop, press the buzzer and the Songthaew will stop immediately. Do not press the buzzer in advance.
Stopping at Kim Yong Market.
After alighting from the rear, head to the front window to pay the Songthaew driver. The Songthaew fare within Hat Yai city costs 10 Baht.
Hat Yai Blue Songthaew Route 8438 is an out-of-town Songthaew route, serving the Hat Yai – Ban Din Lan – Bang Klam route. Luckily I wasn’t heading to the airport or else I would have truly gone the wrong way.
From here, I had wanted to walk to Red Planet Hat Yai, but the waiting tuk-tuk offered me the actual local intra-town fare of 20 Baht after I bargained, so I got on the tuk-tuk for an efficient ride to Red Planet Hat Yai to check-in to my room.