A recent TikTok video by Malaysian content creator Syukri Afifi (@syukriafifi) has gone viral after he shared a troubling experience during his vacation in Vietnam. What was supposed to be a relaxing getaway turned sour when Syukri claimed that he and his friends were subjected to racism by a local souvenir shop staff member.
In the video, Syukri recounted the incident that took place near their Airbnb accommodation. According to him, they had come across a souvenir shop and decided to step in to browse the items. However, their presence was not welcomed.
@syukriafifi its 2025 and I cant believe people like this still exist
original sound - Syukri Afifi
"One of the staff came up to us and asked where we were from. When we said we were from Malaysia, he immediately said, 'Sorry, all of you are not allowed in here, this shop is only for Koreans,' " Syukri recalled.
Syukri further explained that the staff member's reasoning for turning them away was that the items in the shop were expensive. This, he believed, suggested that the staff had a biased view of Malaysians.
"I was stunned. I told him that we just wanted to take a look, but he repeated, 'Items are expensive. Please leave.'
"I asked him directly, 'Do you think we're poor just because we're not Korean?' I told him that what he was doing was racist and then walked out," Syukri said in the video.
In his caption and remarks, Syukri expressed disbelief that such discrimination could still happen in this day and age.
"I didn't expect to go through something like this while traveling. But recently, while on holiday in Vietnam, I became a victim of racism," he wrote.
He ended his post with a message of encouragement to fellow travelers, urging them to stand up against such treatment. "To anyone who's traveling, don't let people like this steal your joy. Speak up and stand firm," he added.
The post quickly drew attention online, with many users expressing anger and disappointment over the treatment Syukri received. Several commenters claimed they had similar experiences at the same store, reinforcing the concerns he raised.
On the other hand, a few netizens encouraged Syukri to stay positive and not let the incident ruin his trip.
While the incident has sparked conversation about racial bias and discrimination in tourism, many agreed on one thing, everyone deserves to be treated with respect, regardless of where they come from.
