Malaysians are very proud of our country’s rich culture and heritage. So it’s no wonder that when we hear the Malay language spoken by a foreigner, we get excited – and impressed!
That’s how TikTok user Syazwan Khaidir felt when he encountered a young Vietnamese girl who is surprisingly fluent in our local language. In his video, Syazwan was heard talking to the girl while she briefly discussed her small business with him in fluent Malay. She even used words like ‘lah’, making her sound very much like a Malaysian.
@creamohq0
The girl was revealed to be Lily, a Vietnamese local who once went viral for being able to speak multiple languages – including Malay, English, Korean, and Japanese. Lily often uses her multilingual abilities to interact with foreigners touring and shopping around the area.
Another TikTok user, Rahseed Nisran, also shared his encounter with Lily when he travelled to Hoi An, Vietnam. In his video, the girl explained that many Vietnamese locals, especially those in the Ho Chi Minh area, are also fluent in the Malay language.
Many Malaysians took notice of the two videos and were quick to recognize Lily. Many comments showered her with praise for her fluency with some even jokingly questioning if she really was Vietnamese. It is said that Lily often chats up foreign tourists, so if you’re in the Hoi An area, keep a lookout for her and say hi!
