Betong (เบตง) is a city in deep southern Thailand, quite close to Yala. The Betong city centre is surrounded by mountains, resulting in a cool climate and high rainfall with frequent fog in the morning. It is therefore dubbed "the city in the fog with beautiful flowers". The food is outstanding and the city has a lot of tourist attractions.

Understand

Betong town

The word betong (เบตง) is Malay, meaning 'bamboo'. The district is at the southernmost point of Thailand, about 140 km from Yala, on Highway 410. The road between Than To and Betong winds on the hillside, affording the scenery of the lake, forest, and rubber plantations. Betong is a large developed district. Malaysian tourists often visit the area because of its proximity to the border.

Get in

Betong has a newly-built airport, which Nok Air flew to from Bangkok. However this route was cancelled in 2023 due to low demand. As of October 2023 no scheduled flights use this airport. If you're flying, fly to Hat Yai. Fares from Bangkok start at THB 1000, with multiple departures daily.

From Yala, one can take the van or taxi that operates hourly from across the Yala Railway Station. From Hat Yai there is an air-conditioned van to Yala and Betong. ☏ +66 73 230905, +66 73 233917. The service departs at 08:00, 10:00, and 13:00. This journey takes around 4 hours.

Get around

You can get around Betong city by songthaew which is very cheap. Moreover, if you want to get a bit further from the city, you can rent a songthaew or motorbike-taxi.

See

• Bala-Hala Forest (ป่าบาลา-ฮาลา). Suan Pa Phra Namaphithai Phak Tai, Section Two (สวนป่าพระนาภิไธยภาคใต้ ส่วนที่ 2) is a lush rain forest with many rare plants and wildlife, especially birds. It is also the habitat of the Sakai. This forest occupies a large area at the boundary of Yala and Narathiwat Districts. 

• Betong Hot Spring (บ่อน้ำร้อนเบตง), Ban Charo Parai Village, Tano Mae Ro (About 5 km before reaching Betong city centre, turn right from Hwy 410 for another 8 km into the village). At the hottest spot, eggs are cooked in seven minutes. A hot spring shower is also available. It is believed that hot spring can cure muscle pain and minor skin irritation. 

• Betong Municipality Park (สวนสุดสยาม, Suan Sut Sayam). Occupies an area of about 120 km² on a hill in the middle of Betong city centre. It is the overlook for the city, consisting of an ornamental plants and flowering plants garden, aviary, health garden, a sports ground, a swimming pool, and a playground. It is suitable for recreation and exercising. If one travels on Sukyang Road for seven kilometres from the park, one will reach the southernmost point of Thailand with a road connection to Malaysia. 

• Chaloem Phra Kiat Ro Kao Waterfall (น้ำตกเฉลิมพระเกียรติ ร.9), Ai Yoe Weng (Turn right off Hwy 410, between Than To and Betong at km 32-33, onto the dirt road for 3km). The waterfall is more than 30 m high, surrounded by lush forest. (updated Oct 2023)

• Inthason Waterfall (น้ำตกอินทสร) (About 15km from Betong city centre, or about 2km beyond the hot spring). A small waterfall with lush forest and pools for swimming and relaxing. 

• 1 The Largest Mail Box in Thailand (ตู้ไปรษณีย์ใหญ่ที่สุดในประเทศไทย) (City Convention Hall). Used to be at the Bell Tower intersection of Betong. It was built in 1924 before World War II as the communication post for the townspeople, through the radio implanted on top of the box, and the mail slot below it. A new box has been built in a larger size (nine metres high), and is at the City Convention Hall (ศาลาประชาคม Sala Prachakhom). The new mail box attracts a large number of tourists who come to take photographs. 

• Piyamit Tunnel (อุโมงค์ปิยะมิตร), Ban Piyamit 1, Tano Mae Ro (About five kilometres before reaching Betong city centre, turn right from Hwy 410 for another 8 km into the village, then go another 4 km). 08:00-16:30. This area was once the base of Malaya Communist Division 2. The tunnel was built in three months in 1976, winding through the mountain for about 1 km, about 15-18 m wide with multiple entrances. It was used as the air raid shelter and food storage area. There is an exhibition about its history including the way of life in the forest. 

• Phra Mahathat Chedi Phra Phutthathammaprakat (พระมหาธาตุเจดีย์พระพุทธธรรมประกาศ), Rattanakit Rd (On a hilltop in Betong city centre, on the grounds of Wat Phutthathiwat). This chedi was built in the modern Srivijaya-style, covered in gold. It is 40 m high, built to commemorate the 69th birthday of the queen. From the chedi one can see all of the temple ground and part of Betong city centre. 

• Swifts (นกนางแอ่น). At dusk swifts fly about the city centre and come to rest at houses, on buildings and on power lines, especially on the Bell Tower that is well-lit at night. They have become one of Betong's symbols, although they are present only during the cool season when they flee from the cold weather of Siberia, usually from September to March. (updated Oct 2023)

Do

• Massage: Despite being a small town, Betong sports a large number of massage parlors. Some have pictures of the masseuses available so you can pick and choose one. Prices range from 250-350 baht for a two hour ancient Thai massage and 300-400 baht for a two hour hot oil massage.
• Sport: Go to the Betong Public Stadium and Sport Complex to exercise or work out. Betong teenager favourites are basketball, swimming, and tennis.

Buy

• Betong Soya Sauce (ซีอิ๊วเบตง)
• Betong Noodles (หมี่เบตง)
• Watercress (ผักน้ำเบตง)
• The ZON duty free shop on the Malaysia-Thailand border. Cheap, since it's duty-free, but not as cheap as other duty-free shops in other places, like major airports.
• Dry market, also on the Malaysia-Thailand border. Lots of small stalls sell various knick-knacks which make good, cheap souvenirs.

Eat

Betong is known for food, especially Betong-Chinese food which is mostly cooked by Hakka-Chinese. Betong is also known for Thai traditional food and Muslim food. Many mouth-watering restaurants are around Betong Market and close to Betong clock tower. Betong Noodles (หมี่เบตง), the egg noodles that are very tasty. Betong Soy Sauce (ซีอิ๊วเบตง) is made from soy beans with a special method.

Tourists can also enjoy the wide variety of Betong specialties. They are: chopped Betong chicken, prepared with local chicken and ladled with Betong soy sauce; steamed Chinese carp in plum sauce - the fish is raised only in Betong and can be prepared for several dishes; khao yok (เคาหยก) is made from fatty pork roasted with taro; phak nam (ผักน้ำ) is a vegetable that grows in flowing streams found only in Betong, and is prepared for a soup or stir-fried.

Drink

The four southernmost provinces of Thailand are muslim-majority areas, so alcohol is far from ubiquitous. Most teenagers will go cafes to socialise. You can find alcoholic drinks in KTV lounges, clubs and hotels.

Sleep

• Betong City Plaza Hotel, 6, Dhamavithee Rd, ☏ +66 73 230441-3. The hotel is in a little shopping plaza. 400-600 baht. 

• Betong Grand View Hotel, 30-34, Grand Villa Rd, ☏ +66 73 245519. 600-1,800 baht. 

• Betong Merlin Hotel, 33, Chayachawalit Rd, ☏ +66 73 230222-40. Close to Betong clock tower and seems to be the most expensive hotel in Betong. 900-3,600 baht. 

• Butterfly Princess Hotel, 188, Prachatipat Rd, ☏ +66 73 230 888. 600-800 baht. 

• Cathay Betong Hotel, 18, Chantharothai Rd, ☏ +66 73 230996-9, cathaybetong@yahoo.com. 500-650 baht. 

• Hlangkha Hostel (หลังคา โฮสเทล), ☏ +66 94 492 4235. English speaking. Friendly, helpful staff, clean rooms with a great view. Integrated cafe. 250-1000 baht. (updated Apr 2021)

• Holiday Hill Hotel (Futuna), 50, Pakdeedumrong Rd., ☏ +66 73 231180. 500-600 baht. 

• Hua Un Hotel, 352/1, Siroros Rd, ☏ +66 73 212989. 150-300 baht. 

• Jackie Chan Hotel, 226, Sukkayang Rd, ☏ +66 73 230710. Famous budget hotel. 200-350 baht. 

• Modern Thai Hotel, 21 Rattanakit Rd, ☏ +66 73 235666. New hotel near Betong Clock Tower. 590 baht. 

• River Inn Resort, 111-113 Soi 12 , Prachatipat Rd, ☏ +66 73 234175-6. One beautiful river view resort especially popular with Malaysian and Singaporean tourists. 700-1,200 baht. 

Connect

• Betong City Information, ☏ +66 73 245616. 

• Tourism Authority of Thailand, ☏ +66 73 522411. For deep south Thailand (Narathiwat, Pattani, and Yala Provinces) 

Go next

• Head north to Hat Yai: The centre of business and shopping for southern Thailand.

• Head down into Malaysia: destinations include Penang, Ipoh, or Kuala Lumpur.