Ko Yo

Ko Yo is a small inhabited island in Songkhla Lake within Ko Yo Subdistrict, Mueang Songkhla District, Songkhla Province, southern Thailand. Connected to the mainland by the Tinsulanonda Bridge, it is known for its traditional hand-woven cotton textiles, the Institute for Southern Thai Studies Folklore Museum, and Wat Laem Pho with its large reclining Buddha. The island offers lake views, cultural villages, temples and local cuisine, making it a notable cultural and scenic destination near Songkhla town.

Visitors can expect a low-lying island in Songkhla Lake accessed via the Tinsulanonda Bridge with paved roads circling the island. The setting includes fishing villages, temples, small farms, and lakeside viewpoints. Key areas to explore are the Folklore Museum complex on a hilltop, Wat Laem Pho temple grounds, traditional weaving workshops and shops selling Ko Yo cotton, and local seafood restaurants along the shore with views of the lake and bridge.

Ko Yo has a long history as an agricultural and fishing community in Songkhla Lake and is historically noted for its distinctive hand-woven cotton textile tradition (Pha Thaw Ko Yo) developed over generations. The Institute for Southern Thai Studies was established to preserve and display the history and ethnology of southern Thailand.

The island is a cultural center for southern Thai traditions, known for Ko Yo woven fabrics with unique patterns, Buddhist temples including Wat Laem Pho, and preservation of southern Thai folklore, crafts and lifestyle exhibited at the Folklore Museum. Weaving remains an important community craft and cultural identity.