Traditional transportation is one thing that many tourists look for when on vacation abroad, besides culinary tasting and visits to the most popular tourist destinations. It turns out that every ASEAN country has a variety of unique traditional transportation.
The uniqueness of traditional transportation in ASEAN countries is not only in its authentic design but also in color, method of use, and history behind it.
So, let’s check them all in this list of traditional transportation in ASEAN countries that are still used today:
Becak, Indonesia
Becak or pedicab in English is still one of the traditional forms of transportation that is easy to find in various regions in Indonesia. This traditional transportation has a capacity of two passengers and a driver whose job is to pedal the becak to its destination.
Uniquely, becak is a transportation means that prioritizes passengers. It can be seen from the position of the driver, who is behind the passenger seat, as well as the passenger seat, which is made of a soft sofa. In addition, it is an environmentally friendly transportation since it does not emit pollution.
Andong, Indonesia
Another unique Indonesian traditional means of transportation besides the becak is andong. It is a four-wheeled carriage pulled by horses. It originated in Java, especially in Yogyakarta.
Unlike delman, andong is bigger and can carry up to eight people. That is why the andong is often used as a traditional means of transportation to get around the city comfortably.
Trishaw, Singapore
If Indonesia has becak, Singapore has trishaw as a traditional transportation which is quite iconic. This traditional Singaporean pedicab invites visiting tourists to explore the past time.
Although both look similar, there are differences between trishaw and becak. One of them is the position of the trishaw driver, which is directly next to the passenger seat. Trishaws can only be found in a few tourist spots!
Cyclo, Vietnam
Cyclo is a traditional three-wheeled transportation in Vietnam. At a glance, the cyclo has a design similar to an Indonesian pedicab. The difference is that cyclo is smaller, narrower, and not equipped with a roof. Cyclo is still a traditional transportation that is in great demand, especially for tourists who want to go around enjoying the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
Tuk-Tuk, Thailand
If you are traveling to Thailand, do not forget to try the tuk-tuk. Initially, tuk-tuk was used to transport goods. However, Tuk-Tuk is now used as a traditional "taxi" to get around Thailand. The shape of a Tuk-Tuk is similar to bajaj, a three-wheeled motorized taxi, that can be found in Jakarta. The difference is that Tuk-Tuk has a longer size and open design so it can take 3—4 passengers at once.
Remork, Cambodia
Traditional transportation in other well-known ASEAN countries is remork or Siem Reap Tuk-Tuk. Remork is a transportation that combines modern and traditional elements as it combines a motorcycle with a seated carriage to accommodate 3--4 people.
Because of its open design, passengers will feel the cool breeze when riding the remork to get around Cambodia. Remork is commonly found on the streets around Siem Reap or in tourist spots.
Tricycle, the Philippines
Another traditional transportation in ASEAN countries that is no less popular is a tricycle. It is a motorized pedicab native to Cebu City, the Philippines, which is famous for its unique design that looks like a bentor, a motorized becak in Indonesia.
One thing that distinguishes the tricycle from bentor is the position of the passenger seat. The passenger seat for bentor is on the left, while the tricycle is on the right. This traditional Filipino transportation can accommodate three people.
Photo: Shutterstock/aditya_frzhm