Public Transportation in Bangkok: How to Use BTS, MRT, and Tuk Tuks 🇹🇭

A Guide to Using Public Transportation in Bangkok: How to Use BTS, MRT, and Tuk Tuks 🇹🇭

#ForrestLee #Thailand #Expat

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[GL-lseo]

Just remember, during rush hour, the interchange between Asok BTS to MRT, the escalators going up from MRT are one-way only. You can descend from BTS on the right before the escalators. I see so many tourists trying to push their way through only to realize it's one way during Rush Hour.

[charlesbronson]

I agree with you regarding the subway/rail transit system in the US compared to Asia. I’ve ridden in NY, DC, Chicago, LA, San Fran and San Diego and they are filthy and unsafe compared to Thailand, Seoul, and Japan. I like the safety screen that prevents people from falling or being pushed onto the tracks unlike NYC where the psychos are always pushing people on the tracks. It’s sad that the US transit system isn’t as nice, clean and SAFE like the Asian transit system.

[kennetharntson]

For those of us expats that live outside of Bangkok but have to drive into the city for embassy appointments and to take the family shopping. The first thing I do is get a hotel close to a sky train station and park my car. To get to the embassy I use a taxi, but for the shopping and getting around Bangkok I use the sky train or subway. Only leaving to go home (then early in the morning) do I use my car in Bangkok.

[ewstuber]

Didn't know I could tap my Visa to pay for MRT! This is a huge time-saver! Thanks so much!

[RobBeMe]

Quite a contrast from BTS to BART (SF Regional equivalent) > upon returning to SFO 2 weeks ago from a month in Thailand I took BART from SFO to the closest station to my home > 1 way fare = $13+ US & was surrounded by odors of human waste w/a few homeless sleeping on the train > this was a Mon am at 6 > the train was disgustingly dirty ...whereas all my BTS experiences for 3+ weeks were impressive for public transit > for a system that's heavily used, it's incredibly clean & quiet > very obvious the Thais take great pride in keeping things clean & orderly.

It's become embarrassing to admit I'm from the SF Bay Area

[thestaffrockband]

The Visa option is a GREAT travel tip; helpful on this one

[AllCarswithJon]

Fantastic video. While I love the food, expats retiring to Thailand, and condo tours, this daily life video is awesome. Just to see how advanced Bangkok is, but contrast the similarities and differences with the US. Exactly what someone would need to know when visiting!
Keep up the great work, I love your stuff.

[nyong]

omg this is so helpful! my family will be visiting Bangkok next year for the Coldplay concert and its our first international travel. thank you so much!

[GenkiStarLeaf]

Awesome vlog Forest. Went to Bangkok’s China Town for the first time when I visited Thailand in late January. Compared to the China Town in London, Bangkok’s is just wild! Stayed at the Hotel Royal Chinatown too which has great views of Bangkok from the rooftop bar. Happy Birthday as well Forest. Another year closer to uncle status. 🤣

[tptwk]

Thank you for the useful information. I just got back from Bangkok and your video really helped me attempt the Thai train system. You are one of the few (or only) that actually talk about the contactless Visa card that can be used at the train turn-styles. I couldn't even find any (Visa) info on the BTS site. It is so much easier than having to buy tokens or refill cards. I don't know why the Sky train doesn't use the same Visa system as MRT, although buying a ticket is not a big deal. My wife and I Stayed right next to the ASOK (across the street from Terminal 21) station and got a day pass for the BTS Skytrain and it allowed us to see so much more in an efficient amount of time. Very crowded but not dangerous at all (unlike the mentioned US cities), and air conditioned. The train system is like an attraction in itself! It's like a treasure map, and you need to find the gold, your destination . It worked out so well, we took the Airport Link back to BKK at the end of our trip. So much easier than a Taxi!! WE (US) can learn a lot from this Mass transit system and how it is supposed to work.

[kamolhengkiatisak]

BTS, MRT: Thailand is a developing country that dared to implement an electric metro system decades ago, not by government initially but by a private enterprise under build-operate-transfer concession basis. When a housing developer Tanayong group proposed to Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BKK city government) to build an electric skytrain linking the major nothern/eastern provincial bus terminal (Mor Chit) into the city center (CBD) itself about 30 years ago, local Thais and expatriates were skeptical because previously HK Hopewell and Canadian Lavalin had proposed such project in Bangkok to the national government but failed hopelessly to complete the project. In the case of Lavalin, only about 1% was completed while Hopewell did a little better upto 5% before both concessionaires abandoned the project due to financial difficulties. However, elected Bangkok governor at the time Gen Chamlong Srimuang did not listen to experts' advices and granted Tanayong concession to carry out the project. Tanayong managed to borrow enough funds from local and overseas banks to build the civil structure running above the main roads, thus did not have to pay any land expropriation fee. When the civil structure was completed, Tanayong bought train and signal system from German Siemens as well as contracting Siemens to help run the system for 10 years. The first year official opening was about 23 years ago in 1999. Even then, some Thai and expatriates still voiced doubts whether the skytrain could earn enough revenue to cover the running costs as well as earning enough profits to pay off principals and interests as the first year's ridership was not great barely covering the operating costs. However, within 10 years the skytrain (Bangkok Transit System or BTS) turned profitable and after 23 years, the BTS is earning huge profit and has long paid off all debts. When the national government saw BTS success, it planned its own MRT (Metro Rapid Transit) systems, covering more lines. However, since some lines are run underground and some above ground, no private companies dared to do the same as Tanayong (now renamed BTS Group) as the civil construction is very expensive. So the national government established MRT state enterprise to design the lines and tender civil constructions using government budget. Once civil construction is completed, MRT tenders bids for private operators to secure the train system as well as running them under concessions. Bangkok is now covered by BTS/MRT/SRT (State Railway of Thailand which runs the Red Line to the suburbs and Airport Link from Suvarnabhumi airport to City center) systems more than 250 kilometers altogether.

Note: Currently
Light Green Line (Sukhumvit Line)
Dark Green Line + Gold Line (Silom Line)
Blue Line (Circle Line)
Purple Line
Airport Link Line (Suvarnabhumi Airport)
Dark Red Line (Grand Station - Don Muang AirPort)
Light Red Line (Grand Station - TalingChan)

Yellow Line (Scheduled Open Last Quarter 2023)
Pink Line (Scheduled Open Last Quarter 2023)
Orange Line(Scheduled Open 2025)

[jamaicanjjason]

This is exactly what I needed to see. Thanks for the simplistic vid format. Happy belated birthday bro

[larslekken]

This was very good and informative video! Good job and thx! 😎🇫🇮🇹🇭

[armaugh]

Your videos are really high quality, Forrest. Well done.

[MrGiovanniwow]

For the bts get a prepaid rabbit card and a metrocard for the mrt if you are staying longer then a couple of days, saves you the hasle to hunt for coins.

[pcmacintyre]

Transit systems in the US suck. I got pretty good with the MRT and BTS while in Bangkok. By the end of the first day it's pretty easy. I will recommend your video to friends coming to Bangkok to explain the transit system. Good to know about Visa tap to pay for the MRT, but beware minimum foreign exchange fees from your US bank. I also overpaid for the taxi from the airport like a typical tourist, but still cheap compared to the US. Sometimes you are tired and don't feel like haggling. I did a Tuk Tuk in Chiang Mai. Went on the highway. I'm sure my life would have flashed before my eyes if I could have seen where we were going (I'm so tall the canopy prevented me from seeing straight ahead.)

[hanhvo]

Its really useful. I am gonna go to Thailand next month. Its my first solo trip and i thought its better to use public transportation for person travel alone and interesting experience. Its not complicated as i thought. Thanks for guiding

[สุทธิศักดิ์มธุรพงศากุล]

This year, New monorails is MRT Yellow and Pink line

[Andreealuminita-hitu]

Hello from Romania thank you for this video she help me for in the future because i want to visit thailanda for the first time.

[chriskelly]

I've gotten better at using the SkyTrain and motorbike Taxi, and the bus. Going to try the water bus(runs exactly like the regular bus) if you're nervous about using any of these Transportation platforms just try it for a short trip and then take the same way back so you can get used to how it runs.