Hat Yai is the biggest town in southern Thailand. Its name is also written Hatyai, Haad Yai and Had Yai. Hat Yai has a population of 160,000 within the city limits and about 800,000 in Greater Hat Yai. Hatyai is the biggest city in Songkhla Province, but is not the capital, which is Songkhla Town. The name is said to be the short form for Ma Hat Yai, meaning "Big Ma Hat Tree", although non-Thais commonly mistaken it to mean Big Beach. For more information, plesae visit at http://www.hatyaicity.go.th/frontpage
