October 4, 2018 — There's no need to search for a tuk-tuk in Cambodia—the tuk-tuk comes to you! Sometimes from across the street, you'll hear the famous and unforgettable "Hello Sir, tuk-tuk Sir?" constantly ringing through the air. In recent years, the country's rapid economic growth has brought more than 10,000 tuk-tuk drivers to Phnom Penh! The tuk-tuk is Cambodia's most widely used form of transport, commonly called "Reumok," derived from the word "remorque" (trailer). The question that emerges today is whether tuk-tuks as we know them are destined to disappear.

The History of the Tuk-Tuk: A Traditional Vehicle?

In the late nineteenth century, people traveled on foot, navigated the canals, or rode in hand-drawn rickshaws—the pousse-pousse (pedicabs), the ancestor of the tuk-tuk ! The pousse-pousse was an important Japanese export product and spread throughout Asia, particularly within European colonies. It became the preferred mode of transport for colonizers.

In the early twentieth century, this mode of transport was supplanted by the pedal-powered trishaw (cyclo-pousse). After World War II, this vehicle evolved with the addition of a Japanese-made two-stroke engine. This marked the birth of the tuk-tuk as we know it today, alongside moto-dops (motorcycle taxis) that surged in numbers during the 2000s!

In Cambodia, the tuk-tuk consists of a scooter attached to a two-wheeled carriage by means of a coupling system into which the trailer slots.

The Tuk-Tuk Revolution

For the past three years, the Taxistartup company, present worldwide, has revolutionized transport in Cambodia by offering an Uber-style app, ready to use for $20 per driver per month or 5% + $0.20 per ride. Companies such as Passapp and Exnet Taxi have seized the opportunity! They now offer users the ability to use the app to travel in auto-rickshaws imported from India, the fuel-powered trishaws that have been converted to gas engines.

It has never been easier to book a taxi thanks to this app: simply enter your pickup location and board the vehicle. Moreover, the switch to gas has drastically reduced costs for consumers. No need to negotiate anymore—fares are set based on time and distance traveled.

As Indian auto-rickshaws connected to transport apps flood the Cambodian landscape, tuk-tuks are struggling to survive the competition! Passengers prefer to abandon tuk-tuk authenticity for practical and economic reasons.

The Tuk-Tuk, Unshakeable!

Although the number of tuk-tuks has declined sharply, they remain complementary to new forms of transport! Recognizing the impact, Passapp decided to add the traditional Khmer tuk-tuk to its app to support drivers without auto-rickshaws, while giving passengers the choice between authenticity and cutting-edge technology.

However, this place alongside new transport methods faces increasing threats!

Indeed, in June 2018, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Grab, an app-based taxi and rickshaw booking service, launched a joint project. The initiative, called SUMAI (Sustainable Urban Mobility for All Initiatives), aims to make Cambodian cities cleaner, safer, and more livable to address the 4.5 million vehicles registered in the capital!

Thus, just as the pousse-pousse gave way to the cyclo-pousse, and the cyclo-pousse to the motorized version, the auto-rickshaw could well be replaced in coming decades by an electric and more robust model, similar to those already seen in Paris, spelling the end of the tuk-tuk as we know it while improving urban living conditions and traffic flow.

But this doesn't mean the tuk-tuk will vanish from the landscape—quite the opposite. It will be prominently visible in tourist areas and will quickly cease to be merely a means of transport, becoming instead a tourist attraction in its own right! Mr. Pov, the president of the tuk-tuk drivers' union, has expressed his wish that 50% of parking spaces outside major tourist attractions be reserved exclusively for tuk-tuks to preserve this heritage.

In fact, former drivers now offer guided city tours by tuk-tuk. Don't hesitate to contact Mr. Soma, a witty driver and an expert geographer near Wat Koh. He speaks fluent English and will be delighted to show you the capital and its surroundings away from the beaten tourist trail!

Charlène Nomadays — An early SEO writer at Nomadays who evolved into content manager and head of communications, Charlène has accompanied the adventure from its inception with passion and dedication. After spending seven years in Asia—from China to Thailand, through Mongolia and South Korea—she has made travel a way of experiencing the world. A lover of words, nature, and human connection, she strives to convey in her writing a sensitive, engaged, and responsible vision of tourism. For her, each article is a bridge between curiosity, respect, and wonder.