Ride Hailing Apps of SE Asia (Tuk-Tuk, Taxi, Motorbike)

Transportation
By Gems Of Travel
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Ride-hailing apps are a ‘god-send’ for Westerners in a foreign country – cheap, safe, and built-in language translation (even for messaging between rider and driver).

Food delivery is also available.

GemsOfTravel strongly recommends using a ride-hailing app and not booking directly with a driver.  This topic will be discussed at the bottom of this post.

A screenshot of the Grab ride hailing smart phone application. This is the "front page" of the app, so to speak. Selectable categories are: "Transport" for ride hailing, "Express" for mailing, "GoNow", "Food" for ordering and having food delivered, "All" for more categories, "Mart" for ordering things from a convenience store or grocery store, "Car" and "TukTuk" for ride hailing. There is a "Payment: Add a card option", which is optional - you can pay with cash, instead. There is also a "Use Points" box that displays accumulated points that an app user has. At the bottom of the app are "Home", "Activity", "Payment", and "Messages". Note that this app has a messaging system with built-in translation. You type English - they see their native language, and vise-versa when they message you.
A screenshot for the option to rent a taxi for a select period of time (as opposed to per trip) on the Grab ride hailing smart phone application. Location is set to Cambodia - options may change for each country in SE Asia.
A screenshot of the Grab smart phone app for ride hailing in Thailand. This shows the available options to book a car or motorbike (scooter). Premium Car: one hundred and sixty-one Thai Baht (roughly five US dollars), standard bike (motorbike): fifty-five Thai Baht (roughly two US dollars), Standard Car: ninety-nine Thai Baht (roughly three US dollars), and Saver Bike: forty-three Thai Baht (roughly one and a half US dollars).
A screenshot of the Grab smart phone app for ride hailing in Cambodia. This shows the available options to book a tuk-tuk, car or remorque (wagon tuk tuk). Tuk Tuk: nineteen-thousand five hundred Cambodian Riel (roughly five US dollars), Premium Car: fifty-two thousand and two hundred Cambodian Riel (roughly thirteen US dollars), Standard Car: thirty-four thousand and two hundred Cambodian Riel (roughly eight and a half US dollars), and Remorque: twenty-two thousand Cambodian Riel (roughly five and a half US dollars),

Types Of Rides Available In SE Asia

This is very different than western countries, in a good way!

Other than the standard car rides, you can book a ride on a motorbike or tuk-tuk.  Each country or city has it’s own offerings on the Grab app, so be sure to check.  A quick note:  Grab is dubbed the ‘Uber of Southeast Asia’.

(1) Car and (2) Motorbike options: (Vietnam):

A screenshot of the Grab smart phone app for ride hailing in Thailand. This shows the available options to book a car or motorbike (scooter). Premium Car: one hundred and sixty-one Thai Baht (roughly five US dollars), standard bike (motorbike): fifty-five Thai Baht (roughly two US dollars), Standard Car: ninety-nine Thai Baht (roughly three US dollars), and Saver Bike: forty-three Thai Baht (roughly one and a half US dollars).

(3) Tuk Tuk, (4) Car, and (5) Remorque options: (Cambodia):

A screenshot of the Grab smart phone app for ride hailing in Cambodia. This shows the available options to book a tuk-tuk, car or remorque (wagon tuk tuk). Tuk Tuk: nineteen-thousand five hundred Cambodian Riel (roughly five US dollars), Premium Car: fifty-two thousand and two hundred Cambodian Riel (roughly thirteen US dollars), Standard Car: thirty-four thousand and two hundred Cambodian Riel (roughly eight and a half US dollars), and Remorque: twenty-two thousand Cambodian Riel (roughly five and a half US dollars),

Car

Car option is the highest prices of all the rides.

You can book per ride. 

A screenshot of the Grab smart phone app for ride hailing in Thailand. This shows the available options to book a car or motorbike (scooter). Premium Car: one hundred and sixty-one Thai Baht (roughly five US dollars), standard bike (motorbike): fifty-five Thai Baht (roughly two US dollars), Standard Car: ninety-nine Thai Baht (roughly three US dollars), and Saver Bike: forty-three Thai Baht (roughly one and a half US dollars).

Plus, you have the option to rent a car driver for 2, 4, 6, or 8 hours.

A screenshot for the option to rent a taxi for a select period of time (as opposed to per trip) on the Grab ride hailing smart phone application.
Options for hiring a four-seater taxi for a set amount of time via the Grab smart phone app for ride hailing in Cambodia. This shows the available options where pricing is based on the amount of time you need a car driver for. There are two options - one: inside the city, and two: outside the city). Prices for inside the city are as follows. Two hours: seventy-three thousand and four hundred Cambodian Riel (roughly eighteen US dollars), Four hours: one hundred eighteen thousand and four hundred Cambodian Riel (roughly thirty US dollars), Six hours: one hundred sixty-eight thousand and four hundred Cambodian Riel (roughly forty-two US dollars), Eight hours: two hundred eight thousand and four hundred Cambodian Riel (roughly fifty US dollars). Prices for outside the city are as follows. Six hours: two hundred eighteen thousand and four hundred Cambodian Riel (roughly fifty-five US dollars), Eight hours: two hundred fifty-eight thousand and four hundred Cambodian Riel (roughly sixty-five US dollars)

Motorbike

*Only in Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam

Motorbike option is the lowest prices of all the rides, usually about half the price of a car.

A passenger on the back of a motorbike taxi, booking through the Grab ride hailing smart phone application.
A driver of a motorbike taxi on his motorbike. He is employed through the Grab ride hailing company, and is wearing Grab-branded helmet and jacket.
On a sidewalk, a driver of a motorbike taxi is laying on his parked motorbike, relaxing. His back is on the seat, and his feet are on the front handle bars in a fetal position. He is employed through the Grab ride hailing company, and is wearing Grab-branded jacket. His helmet is Gojek branded, a ride hailing company similar to Grab.

Tuk-Tuk & Remorque (Remork)

*Only in Cambodia

Ride a remorque for more space.  Remorques have more space for baggage, or it can hold double the amount of people.

A remorque (French word for wagon) taxi riding down the road in Kampot, Cambodia. It consists of a motorbike that is towing a two-wheeled wagon with seating and a canopy. It has two bench seats - one looking forward, and another one looking backward. Each bench seat fits two people, so four people total can ride in this taxi. This attached wagon-style transportation is unique to Cambodia - it can be used as a family vehicle, a taxi, and sometimes even for moving goods. The motorbike is a Honda Dream in this image.
A fancy remorque (French word for wagon) taxi that is towed by a Harely Davidson in Cambodia. It is parked. A remorque "wagon" consists of a motorbike that is towing a two-wheeled wagon with seating and a canopy. It has two bench seats - one looking forward, and another one looking backward. Each bench seat fits two people, so four people total can ride in this taxi. This attached wagon-style transportation is unique to Cambodia - it can be used as a family vehicle, a taxi, and sometimes even for moving goods. The motorbike is a Harely Davidson motorcycle in this image.
Three tuk-tuks waiting for customers outside a train station in Cambodia. There is one Indian-style three-wheel tuk-tuk, and two remorques (French word for wagon).
A Bajaj Indian-style tuk-tuk in Cambodia. It is three wheeled and is fully enclosed. This tuk-tuk is decorated with various visual graphics per the owner/driver's amusement, which is a common thing to do in Cambodia.

You can book per ride. 

A screenshot of the Grab smart phone app for ride hailing in Cambodia. This shows the available options to book a tuk-tuk, car or remorque (wagon tuk tuk). Tuk Tuk: nineteen-thousand five hundred Cambodian Riel (roughly five US dollars), Premium Car: fifty-two thousand and two hundred Cambodian Riel (roughly thirteen US dollars), Standard Car: thirty-four thousand and two hundred Cambodian Riel (roughly eight and a half US dollars), and Remorque: twenty-two thousand Cambodian Riel (roughly five and a half US dollars),

Plus, you have the option to rent a tuk-tuk or remorque driver for 2, 4, 6, or 8 hours.  Same goes for car rides in Cambodia, at least you can in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh.

A screenshot for the option to rent a taxi for a select period of time (as opposed to per trip) on the Grab ride hailing smart phone application. Location is set to Cambodia - options may change for each country in SE Asia.
Options for hiring a standard tuk tuk (a three-seater) taxi for a set amount of time via the Grab smart phone app for ride hailing in Cambodia. This shows the available options where pricing is based on the amount of time you need a car driver for. Note: app prices are in Cambodian Riel, but approximate conversion to US dollars is done for convenience. "TukTuk - two hours": ten USD; "TukTuk - four hours": fourteen USD; "TukTuk - six hours": nineteen USD; and "TukTuk - eight hours": twenty-four USD.
Options for hiring a remorque (a four-seater wagon-style tuk tuk) taxi for a set amount of time via the Grab smart phone app for ride hailing in Cambodia. This shows the available options where pricing is based on the amount of time you need a car driver for. Note: app prices are in Cambodian Riel, but approximate conversion to US dollars is done for convenience. "City Center (four hours)": twelve USD; "Mini Trip (eight hours)": eighteen USD; "Grand Trip (eight hours)": twenty USD; and "Outside City (eight hours)": thirty USD.
Options for hiring a car taxi for a set amount of time via the Grab smart phone app for ride hailing in Cambodia. This shows the available options where pricing is based on the amount of time you need a car driver for. Note: app prices are in Cambodian Riel, but approximate conversion to US dollars is done for convenience. "City Center, Car (four hours)": twenty-five USD; "Mini Trip, Car (eight hours)": thirty-three USD; "Grand Trip, Car (eight hours)": thirty-five USD; and "Outside City, Car (eight hours)": sixty-three USD.

Ride Hailing Apps In SE Asia

Tip

Just use the Grab app, to make matters simple.

It is the most dependable and popular, and it is in all of the Southeast Asia countries other than Laos (use Loca there).  You can save money by using other apps, but those apps may not vet their drivers well.

Uber

N/A – not available in Southeast Asia

Grab

Singaporean company

SEA Countries that Grab works in:

Cambodia
Indonesia

Laos is not included

Malaysia
Myanmar
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand
Vietnam

Grab is considered ‘best in SE Asia’ because:

( 1 ) Availability

They serve within most SE Asian countries and are in almost every city or small town. -> 1 app for all of your travels.

( 2 ) Drivers

They are known for vetting their riders (for motorbike) and drivers (for tuk-tuks and automobiles) and setting some quality standards for their service. There have been issues with bad drivers on cheaper app platforms.

( 3 ) Legitimacy

Grab is a Singaporean company and listed on an American stock exchange, both of which do add to their legitimacy as a company.  Also, Grab purchased Uber’s Southeast Asia operations in 2018.

Gojek

Indonesian company based in Jakarta.

SEA Countries that Grab works in:

Indonesia
Singapore

PassApp

Cambodian company.

SEA Countries that Grab works in:

Cambodia

Loca (Laos only)

Laotian company.

SEA Countries that Grab works in:

Laos

Food Delivery

Food delivery is very common in SE Asia, and many restaurants participate.

It is rather self-explanatory. They are always motorbike (scooter) delivery drivers, which is great because they are able to get through traffic much faster than a car.

Grab ridehailing food delivery. A parked scooter with a basket on the back for delivering food and drinks in Southeast Asia. The basket has the company's name on it, "Grab", and logo.
Grab ridehailing food delivery. A delivery man riding down the road on a scooter with a basket on the back for delivering food and drinks in Southeast Asia. The basket has the company's name on it, "Grab", and logo.

Safety & Security Tips

Good practices for using ride hailing apps:

Verify & Confirm 

ALWAYS check the license plate & confirm it is the correct driver that is assigned to you.  If a driver does not arrive with the correct information, then cancel the ride and find a new one.

Why?  Because, there are many imposters who pretend to be your ride when THEY ARE NOT.  These imposters will end up scamming you.

For motorbike rides via Grab, if they do have your rider information (in the situation where their plates do not match the Grab Apps info) on their phone screen with the correct destination, then it is up to you if you want to continue the ride with them.  In this circumstance, we have not had issues.  We would not do this with a car or tuk-tuk ride, though.  We interpret this as they are simply riding a different motorbike, because they perhaps got a new one?  Tuk-Tuks and cars do not get passed around, so their information should match.

Pay with cash

Pay with cash (this is an option when booking the ride and within the app settings) – it is very simple to do this.  The app will tell you the price – that is all that you have to pay, nothing more!  This is why the apps are so great, because they enforce honesty.

Do not add a credit card or debit card as a payment method on the app unless if you absolutely have to!  There has been cases where the card had fraudulent charges, and disputing it with the ride-hailing app is not fun.  Debit cards cannot be reimbursed for fraudulent charges as easily as credit cards can be.

Tip

Try to save small cash bills for your rides, and having exact change is helpful for the driver.

GemsOfTravel has never had any issue with ride-hailing in Southeast Asia.  We have heard of several issues when dealing directly with taxis and tuk-tuks, so it’s best to stick to using the ride-hailing apps.

PROs & CONs Of Using Ride Hailing Apps

PROs

  • Time and Availability : Rides are usually available at any time of the day (early morning to late at night), so no need to worry.
  • Safe : The trip is documented by a reputable company, lowering the chances of being scammed.  And, if you have an issue you can report it to the company.
  • Cheaper : Cheaper (or should we say “fair priced”) than “negotiating” with a driver who solicits you.  Do no entertain solicitors.
  • Honest & Transparent : No bullying – they riders go by the price and drop-off location as it says in the app.  They will not hassle you, so never a worry with using an app.

CONs

  • Availability : The apps’ service is not always available in every single city of every country within Southeast Asia, unfortunately.
  • Does Not Fully Prevent Scamming : Apps almost entirely eliminate scamming, but some drivers will be creative about scamming you. They might pressure you for tips, in which tipping is absolutely not normal in SEA. Thy might say the credit card payment didn’t go through and demand cash. Sometimes they will use a vehicle with a different license plate that does not match what they have registered with the app – this is up to you if you decide to proceed with the driver or cancel and book another one, which is a subjective matter. All of these issues happen much more in Vietnam.
  • Imposters : At the airport/train station/bus station, some drivers will pretend to be your driver when they are not, which is why it is very important to check and confirm their license plate – DO NOT go with them if the license plate does not match. You will experience this in Vietnam.
  • Taxi Mafia : You will hear the term “taxi mafia” to describe the traditional tax drivers.  The drivers associated as a “taxi mafia” push back against drivers affiliated with the ride hailing apps.  They are known to attack drivers of rider hailing apps.  This does not exist in most places, which is a good thing, but it does happen.

Tip

Check country + city availability before you go. Not all cities w/in a country allow the Grab app. Before traveling to a city, open your app and set the pickup at your arrival location.  For Grab, it will tell you if the service is available there or not.  It’s helpful to know before you go what to expect.  If Grab is not available at your destination (arrival point), then you can plan for another means of transportation.

Grab uses “Grab Maps” instead of Google Maps, which can be the source of confusion. It is an issue because a location on Google Maps is often not found on Grab Maps, and with no result showing on the search bar.  Often times, you will need to manually locate the pickup point and destination on Grab Maps.  Cross your fingers and hope for an update on the app to make things more seamless!

Why To Not Deal Directly With Taxis And Tuk-Tuk Drivers

For safety and security use a ride-hailing app.  Avoid directly using taxis and tuk-tuks. This prevents scams and safety issues.  There always are a few exceptions, but by using the app you will be guaranteed to avoid the trouble and headaches.

Taxi or tuk-tuk drivers can be completely kind and honest people.  Not all drivers are bad people all the time.  If they were always bad, then they would never get any passenger customers.

However, it is common enough for drivers to wait for the perfect target – tourists who are not aware of their scamming behaviors.  More often than not you should not deal with them directly.  Sometimes, they will overcharge you by a lot.  Other times, they may put you in a sketchy or dangerous position.

The rule of law is not in your favor in Southeast Asia, especially with language barriers.  You do not want any potentially exploitable gray areas during your time abroad.

You want it to be very clear about going from point A to point B, and an app does this for you.  An app will set pickup and drop-off points, translate messaging between rider and driver, and present a transparent price to you.  All you need to do is book, get in the vehicle (+ verify it’s your ride), get out, pay, and leave – that’s it.

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