Short answer
A Chiang Mai red truck, the red songthaew, is a shared pick-up taxi that carries a sign capping the fare at 30 baht per person within the second ring road. Wikivoyage says the price is fixed at 30 baht inside the city walls, must be negotiated outside them, and that tourists are often quoted 40 baht or more. Grab usually costs about 60 to 80 baht for a few kilometres for the whole car, according to Wikivoyage. State your destination, agree the price per person before you board and ring the roof buzzer to get off.
What a red truck is and how to use one
Wikivoyage describes the songthaew, Thai for "two rows", as a covered pick-up truck with two long bench seats in the back, which serves as both bus and taxi. Wikipedia adds that in Chiang Mai locals call them rot daeng, "red car", after their most common colour, and that they run as shared taxis for passengers heading in roughly the same direction.
Wikivoyage says red songthaews do not follow a fixed route and roam the main streets around markets, temples and the bus and train stations. To catch one, flag it down, state your destination and, if the driver is going that way, he will nod and give you a price. Pay per person, confirm the price before you board, and ring the buzzer on the roof when you want to stop.
Fares: 30 baht inside the city, more outside
Wikivoyage says fares are fixed at 30 baht inside the city walls and must be negotiated outside them, where you should expect upwards of 40 baht. Since mid-2017 the trucks carry a sign saying "30 baht per person". Wikivoyage points out that, read in full, the Thai text says the fare is not more than 30 baht per person, and a second line below the windows limits that to the area within the second ring road.
In peak season, Wikivoyage says, the price can rise to 40 baht inside the walls and up to 200 baht outside, which is what a tourist would pay. The driver may take a roundabout route because of the one-way streets, but the fare does not change. We could not find an official tariff notice, so the sign and the Wikivoyage entry are the evidence we have.
Chartering a whole truck for a day trip
Wikivoyage says songthaews that are not circling a route can be hired outright, like a taxi, with the price negotiated before departure. For the road up to Doi Suthep, it says shared songthaews should be 80 baht or less as of 2025, and lists 50 baht for a one-way ride and 180 baht for a round-trip tour of the temple, Bhubing Palace and a hill-tribe village. Our Doi Suthep guide has the details.
For longer trips, the travel blog Two Wandering Soles says a return songthaew trip from Chiang Mai to Sticky Waterfall costs anywhere from 800 to 1,500 baht depending on bargaining, in a post updated in December 2025. That is a blog's figure, not an official fare, and a whole truck can carry several people. Agree the price, the waiting time and the return in advance. Our Sticky Waterfall guide covers the trip.
Grab, Bolt and taxis: when they beat a red truck
Wikivoyage says Grab is usually cheaper than a tuk-tuk, even after haggling, and that most rides in the city, including to the train and bus stations, cost around 60 to 80 baht for a few kilometres. Airport rides carry a premium, with one example of 180 baht against 70 baht to Central Airport Plaza nearby. It adds that Bolt and Maxim are usually 10 to 20 percent cheaper for cars.
A tip from Wikivoyage: many tourist destinations show highly inflated, fixed prices in the app, so try a drop-off point 300 to 500 metres away and the price may fall sharply. GrabTaxi, the metered taxi option, charges the meter plus a 30 baht booking fee. Wikivoyage says tuk-tuks are hard to bargain below 100 baht for even a few kilometres, and at the stations they ask more.
Red truck or city bus? And the fixed-route songthaews
Airports of Thailand lists the RTC Chiang Mai city bus at 30 baht per trip for any distance, with a red-line route from the airport via Chiang Mai Gate and the Night Bazaar to Tha Phae Gate. Wikivoyage mentions an older 20 baht ticket, so trust the airport's figure. For a single traveller arriving at the airport, the bus at 30 baht and the airport shuttle routes at 40 or 60 baht are the cheapest options we found.
Outside the city, Wikivoyage lists fixed-route songthaews by colour from Warorot Market and nearby: white to San Kamphaeng and Mae Taeng, yellow to Doi Saket and to Hang Dong and San Pa Tong, blue to Lamphun, green to Mae Jo and orange to Fang. The fare depends on the distance, and the destination signs are only in Thai, so ask a hotel to write your destination in Thai.
Common mistakes and a quick script
Wikivoyage warns that some drivers quote a "taxi" price when they see a foreigner, and that peak-season rates rise. If the truck is empty, confirm the price before you get in. The script is short: say where you are going, ask "per person?", agree the price, and show the 30 baht sign if the quote is far above it. If the price is not right, step back and wait for the next truck.
Do not assume a songthaew will take a direct route or stop at an unusual place. Wikivoyage's entry on an abandoned temple near the Monk's Trail says songthaews usually will not stop where few people go, so you must catch the driver's attention beside the road. For mountain roads, remember Wikivoyage's warning that any songthaew up the Doi Suthep road can be a trial for people prone to motion sickness.
What our tours cover so you do not need a truck
Our Thai cooking class at an organic farm is from $30 per person and includes hotel pickup and drop-off for hotels within about 3 km of the old city, so you do not need a red truck for the class. The morning class picks you up at about 8:00 to 8:30 am and returns at about 2:30 pm; the evening class picks you up at about 3:00 to 3:30 pm and returns at about 9:30 pm.
Our elephant sanctuary and Doi Inthanon tour, from $40 per person, includes a round-trip hotel transfer in Chiang Mai too. Use the red truck for the rest of your days: temples, the markets and the old city. Send us your hotel when you book and we confirm the pickup time the day before.
Practical checklist
- Say your destination, ask "per person?" and agree the price before you board.
- Expect 30 baht inside the old city and more outside the second ring road.
- Compare Grab for a few kilometres, and check the airport shuttle or city bus from the airport.
- For a day trip by red truck, agree price, waiting time and return in advance.
- Ask your hotel to write your destination in Thai.
Questions and answers
How much is a red truck in Chiang Mai?
Wikivoyage says up to 30 baht per person inside the city walls and more outside, with tourists often quoted 40 baht or more. The sign on the trucks caps it at 30 baht within the second ring road.
Is Grab cheaper than a red truck in Chiang Mai?
Per person, a red truck at up to 30 baht is cheaper than a Grab car at about 60 to 80 baht for a few kilometres, according to Wikivoyage. For a group of three or more, 30 baht a head adds up to more than the car.
Can you hire a red truck for a day trip?
Yes. Wikivoyage says songthaews not on a fixed route can be hired outright, with the price agreed before departure. A blog quotes 800 to 1,500 baht for a return trip to Sticky Waterfall.
How do you stop a songthaew?
Wikivoyage says to ring the buzzer on the roof. The driver pulls over, waits for you to get out and you pay then. Agree the price per person before you board.
How much is the bus from Chiang Mai airport?
Airports of Thailand lists the RTC city bus at 30 baht per trip and the airport shuttle bus routes at 40 or 60 baht. Check fares and routes before you travel.