Hat Yai leads Thailand’s list of most congested cities
Hat Yai has surpassed Bangkok as Thailand’s most traffic-congested city, with a survey ranking it first in the country for average travel time per 10 kilometres
While many might assume that Bangkok holds the dubious honour of being Thailand’s most congested city, a recent survey by Dutch navigation specialist TomTom has revealed an unexpected frontrunner: Hat Yai.
According to the TomTom Traffic Index, which ranks cities worldwide based on the average time taken to travel 10 kilometres, Hat Yai in the southern province of Songkhla tops the list for Thailand. The city recorded an average of 24.12 minutes for every 10 kilometres, earning it the 102nd spot globally.
Close behind is Chiang Mai, with an average travel time of 23.31 minutes (116th globally), while Khon Kaen ranked third at 22.19 minutes (145th globally).
Surprisingly, Bangkok – often associated with gridlocks – ranked fourth with an average travel time of 21.51 minutes (161st globally), while Nakhon Ratchasima completed the top five at 20.57 minutes (184th globally).
These findings underscore the rising traffic challenges faced by cities across Thailand, extending well beyond the capital.
