A taxi the entire family can fit into! Learn how to use a songtaew in Chiang Mai
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What are Songtaews?
The Municipality of Chiang Mai doesn’t operate a typical public transport system. In fact, it’s not fair to call it a ‘public transportation system’ at all. You won’t find light rail, metros, or sky trains here; at least not for years to come.
What you will see everywhere are these enclosed red pickup trucks. These are known as songtaews (song-tows), aka red buses or red trucks. The name translates to two benches, which is exactly what you’ll find when you hop in the back.
Songtaews are actually a great way to get around because you can throw your entire family in the truck, including cousin Sheryl, Uncle Jim and their screaming kids hanging out the back.
How to get a songtaew in Chiang Mai
Close your eyes and picture a scene from one of those quintessentially New York films from the 90’s where people hail a cab. It’s essentially the same process for a songtaew. Stand at the edge of the sidewalk and wave down a red truck! Don’t feel badly if your efforts are ignored.
There are 2,700 red bus songtaews operating in Chiang Mai, which means you’ll spot one every few minutes especially within the moat area. 550 have now been designated to serving 11 specific routes in and around the city and even have proper bus stops. These routes operate between 5 am – 8 pm daily and the songtaews on these routes are referred to as Red Cars and have large numbers on the front. If a songtaew driver ignores you, he’s probably operating one of these routes, or the truck is full up. If you’re up for trying, there’s a great app for Red Cars with route maps, stops, and even shows the wait time for the next bus!
The remaining 2,150 red buses operate in the good old flag em down fashion. Grab a songtaew and head out for an adventurous ride. Make sure you are ready with your destination. Speak loudly and clearly into the passenger window. Typically, the drivers have very poor English and don’t know how to use maps, but try not to let this frustrate you. Wait for a nod. Then make sure you ask how much and confirm it that is per person or for the whole family.
How will you know when to get off?
Once you reach your destination, the driver will yell at you to get off, or if you recognize your stop, you can ring the bell. It’s usually located on the ceiling and looks like either a light switch or a push button.
Songtaews aren’t stopping or refuse to take you
Be aware that the drivers have every right to refuse to take you where you want to go. There are a few reasons for this. It’s important to understand that your family will not be the only passengers in the songtaew.
The service operates similar to a bus in that it picks people up and drops them off, except it picks people up randomly and drops them off to a desired spot. This means that the people already on the truck have priority. If you are looking to go to a destination that is far from the spot the driver is already headed, he will not let you on. Another reason for refusing you is your destination is too far outside their familiar range, or they don’t know the place you are trying to get to.
How much should a songtaew cost?
Prices will vary depending on distance starting from 30 baht to 100 baht plus per person.
Prices are always negotiable. If you feel you’re getting a stiff deal, you probably are. Skip the ride and wait for the next driver. If you find the price fair, hop in the back and enjoy the ride.
To ensure you will easily reach your desired stop, these free-wheeling songtaews are also available for private rental, for example, if you wanted to rent one out for a day trip.
How to hire a songtaew for a day?
One way is to take a songtaew somewhere on a previous day and ask for the driver’s personal phone number. Inquire if he/she would be willing to be rented out for a day. If not, they’ll likely recommend a friend for you.
It should also be possible to arrange a red truck rental through your guesthouse, hotel or resort. The standard daily rate depends on how far you are going, and how long you are requiring the services for.
Generally speaking, rates vary between 500 – 2,000 baht per songtaew. The driver will either wait for you at your destination, or come back at an agreed upon time. Make sure you get their phone number just in case*!
Is it safe to ride a songtaew?
Songtaews are the most popular form of transport for locals and tourists alike. During rush hour, the red trucks get crammed with people. Sometimes the only place to find a spot is to hang on out the back!
The drivers are generally careful and slow drivers, but keep in mind there are no seat belts. This can make for a slidey ride! Watch out for hard stops. Sometimes the drivers have no choice but to brake hard and fast, which can send riders into the wall near the driver. There is no padding, and from banging my head there, I can say it really hurts! There is also no barrier to stop anyone from falling out the back of the truck. Best to seat children and elderly in the middle, sandwiched between others.
*Drivers are licensed to own and drive the red trucks. Look for a certificate and photo of the driver near the front cab. To report a complaint about public transport in Chiang Mai, call 1584.
