Chiang Mai Songthaews

Regular visitors to Chiang Mai are very familiar with the red trucks which roam the streets of the city. During rush hour, passengers may stand on the rear platform and even sit on the roof if space is limited inside the rear of the truck. Songthaews get their name from the two bench seats in the rear.

When you are ready to get around on a Chiang Mai songthaew, just wait by the side of the road and hail the next one that goes by. Just one note, whenever you hail a songthaew, taxi or other public transportation, always motion toward yourself with your hand facing downward. If you are unsure, watch how other locals call for a songthaew.

When the Chiang Mai songthaew stops, walk over to the front cab and tell the driver where you would like to go. Many songthaew drivers can speak some English, but it may be good to have the name of your destination written on a card or small slip of paper. Ask your hotel staff for help if needed.

If the driver is going in the direction of your destination he will tell you to get on the songthaew. If not, you can wait for the next Chiang Mai songthaew. One should pass by in a few minutes.

Before you get on board, ask the driver how much for your fare. It is okay to ask for a better price, but with current fuel costs the driver may be reluctant to lower the fare. When you reach your destination, push the button to ring the buzzer and the driver will pull over and stop. Once he is stopped, get out of the truck and pay the driver your agreed fare.

The Many Colors of Chiang Mai Songthaews

Most visitors to Chiang Mai will use the red Chiang Mai songthaews. They roam the streets and their route is dependant on the destination of their passengers. However, there are many different colors of songthaews and most of them follow a specific route. For first time visitors to Chiang Mai, it may be difficult to determine the destination of the Chiang Mai songthaews. Most of the routes start at a market area in Chiang Mai, such as the Wararot market, and end in town outside of Chiang Mai. The fare for the "non-red" songthaews are very cheap, but they will not go to destinations outside of their designated route. If you need to go to an area outside of Chiang Mai, ask for help from your hotel staff or another local resident. You may be able to go cheap on a Chiang Mai songthaew.

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