Thais have King and Buddhism, and officially they are symbols of Thailand. But, anybody, who been in Thailand, agrees the real symbol is small, noisy vehicle riding in smelling clouds of exhaust pollutions. That vehicles produced locally by small producers. That’s why vehicles look so home-made. In most of modifications producers use parts of factory produced motorcycles and pickups. Some of them really are modified motorcycles and pickups. They are technically imperfect, they heat environment, they are uncomfortable. But – they are amazing and authentic, and we excuse and enjoy them.
Mainstream Tuk-Tuk (Bangkok and central Thailand, Chiang Mai and Northern Thailand)
You can see it even on t-shirt
Ayuthaya Style: the most authentic Tuk-Tuk
Phuket Style: the most expensive and unfriendly Tuk-Tuk
Krabi Style: the most uncomfortable Tuk-Tuk
Nong Khai Style: the slowest Tuk-Tuk (you can outrun it by fast walk)
Sukhotai Style
Pattaya Style
Thais call it songteow, but tourists who don’t know Tuk-Tuks must be small and 3-wheeled, noising and smelling, call it Tuk-Tuk.
Modern and Luxury Variations
Just Married… and in Tuk-Tuk now!
Police Tuk-Tuk Modification
Tuk-Tuk with political advertising
Tuk-Tuk for stupid tourists
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What an excellent post on Tuk Tuks! Loving it.
Koh Si Chang, the island off Chonburi province not far from Bangkok (different from Koh Chang), has what I believe are unique tuktuks. They are called “skylabs” for reasons unknown to me. They have a motorcycle front end and the back end of a small pickup, and generally a four-speed shifter-type transmission.
Ah yes… I stayed at Koh Si Chang just this year and have a few photos of their tuk tuks somewhere…
Catherine, wisekwai, can you share photos of Koh Si Chang tuk-tuks?
Gosh, when I see new kind of Thai homemade vehicle I dream about museum of vehicles of Southeast Asia!