Young Vietnamese people are vowing to take action after video of their elders being attacked by thugs went viral.

The shocking footage shows people, believed to be shopkeepers, defending themselves with chairs against a group of men of African appearance.

Screaming, shouting and smashing can be heard as the group of Vietnamese people try to push back against the group, who allegedly attacked them after asking for a cigarette and being rejected.

The clip left many young Vietnamese people in the area furious, and they have vowed to band together and fight back.

Shopkeepers in St Albans, about 15 km from the Melbourne CBD, were seen fighting off thugs outside their stores this week in footage that has gone viral and enraged the younger generation

'Guys, I usually don't post much, but enough is enough,' one man said after sharing the video to his social media account.

'We gotta make a stand together as a whole and stick up to these situations.

'Rally up and stand together to fight against these people who think they can walk all over us.'

The man said the job could not be completed alone, and encouraged his friends and followers to stand up against 'bullies'.

'If you guys have pride in your community, let's do it together,' he wrote.

Another Vietnamese man said it was 'time to prove who we are'.

'This message to all Vietnamese people in west Melbourne!

'You rather just stand there and watch your children or family member been [sic] robbed, bashed, raped then do nothing - or join us to protect our love [sic] one from this.'

Young Vietnamese people are vowing to take action after video of their elders being attacked by thugs went viral. One Australian man said he would also get involved

The alleged dispute began when a Vietnamese shopkeeper declined to share his cigarettes with a younger man of African appearance

A message chain obtained by Daily Mail Australia alleges a Vietnamese man was hospitalised with 'fractures, mild amnesia and internal bleeding' after the fight.

Another message claims the men of African appearance had come back after the fight and stolen from customers.

'They went into the shop... and stole people's handbags and phones that are table,' the message read.

'And now today they're sitting outside [the] door ... Not letting customers in.'

One Vietnamese woman said she had been at the restaurant with her young son during the fight.

'It's sad to feel unsafe in your homeland. The Vietnamese community stuck together and defended themselves,' she said.

The woman claimed the men of African appearance did not 'deserve' to be in Australia, and claimed her immigrant community had done a better job of assimilating than the one the alleged attackers belonged to.

'Why we let them in, feed them and give them money for making trouble to us, what is the Australia law?' she wrote.

'It's not fair - we are working hard, paying tax and support these mother f***ers.'

Video from the brawl shows shopkeepers arming themselves with chairs as they try to fight off the younger men

One Vietnamese woman told 7 News she was 'very terrified' and 'really scared' to be working on the strip.

'Everyday we worry, really worry, everyday they will come,' she said.

Other foreign business owners said they were worried the constant conflict would impact their businesses.

A spokeswoman for Victoria Police told Daily Mail Australia there was an ongoing investigation into the fight, but no charges had been laid yet.