Hat Yai to Penang, how early

[DooTooBoo]

Hi there.

I wondered if anyone can help me. This evening I have just arrived in Hat Yai having never come here before. I am intending to head to Penang to apply for a Thai Visa.

I would like to apply for my Visa tomorrow. I was hoping to be able to wake up at 5/6am, head to the train station and try find a minivan and arrive in Penang hopefully around 9.30 in time to apply for my visa. I have been looking on google and found some people stating you can get from Hat Yai to Penang within 3 hours, and minivans leave every 2 hours. I have found other sites which say minivans leave around 9am, 12 and 3pm and that it is not possible to leave Hat Yai on the same day and arrive in time to apply for a Visa.

Does anyone know what the actual situation is

Thanks very much

[lopburi3]

It is too late now but you lose an hour due to time change so you do have to leave early and there may be vans doing so but many are later so I always used share taxi ten years ago when I made that trip.