Songthaew
Reviewed by the Samui Local Hub team ·
Main page on this topic: Taxis (the meter reality)
Pronunciation
song-tae-ow
Thai script
สองแถว
Meaning
Literally 'two rows' - the shared pickup-truck buses with two benches that are Samui's main public transport.
When to use it
Flag one down on the ring road, tell the driver your beach, press the buzzer to stop, pay when you get off.
Summary
Songthaew ('two rows', for the two bench seats) is Samui's shared taxi-truck - the island's only real public transport.
Details
Songthaew ('two rows', for the two bench seats) is Samui's shared taxi-truck - the island's only real public transport.
Local tips
- Red/maroon trucks; no fixed stops; ~30-100 THB shared fare
Frequently asked questions
What is a songthaew?
A converted pickup truck with two bench rows in the back (สองแถว, 'two rows') - the shared, cheap public transport on Koh Samui.
Sources
Plus local research.
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