Meet the 'funniest Korean girl in Vietnam' who is going viral

Reaction of Korean girl trying vermicelli with shrimp paste for the first time After 4 months living in Hanoi , Kim mustered up the courage to try vermicelli with shrimp paste. She commented that the dish was "delicious and wanted to try it again".

"I moved from Korea to Hanoi on July 18, 2025. I know that in Vietnam people often use abbreviations. But it's okay. Abbreviation or not, I don't understand."

This is one of Kim Ga Young's (Going Kim) posts with tens of thousands of interactions on Threads, earning her the nickname "the funniest Korean girl in Vietnam".

"Hanoi chose me"

Ga Young often carries a Vietnamese notebook with her. She wears a black T-shirt with the words "Elementary Vietnamese" printed on it, making people laugh easily because of the charm of a foreigner trying to adapt to a new language.

"I find Vietnamese very difficult, but I don't want to waste the opportunity to live here. Hanoi chose me before I could choose it," she told Tri Thuc - Znews .

Ga Young in an interview with Tri Thuc - Znews . Photo: Chau Sa.

Before moving to Vietnam, Ga Young lived in Bucheon City (West of Seoul), worked in the eyewear industry for 10 years, and started an online store for 5 years. Her job allowed her to work from anywhere.

Two years ago, she visited Phu Quoc for tourism and had a good experience, but never thought of moving to Vietnam to live.

When a relative was transferred to a Korean company branch in Vietnam, she decided to go to Hanoi to join him. For Kim, among the many countries where they both had the opportunity to work, Vietnam was a special fate.

At the end of July, Kim arrived at Noi Bai in the middle of the hottest days. Just stepping out of the airport, the night was still hot and humid, which surprised her.

Korean girl experiences vermicelli with fermented shrimp paste and riding a motorbike taxi in Hanoi. Photo: Provided by the character.

Phu Quoc once left female tourists with the image of a gentle, peaceful Vietnam, while Hanoi is different.

"A big city, very energetic. People get up very early, have breakfast and go to work. Hanoi makes me feel the positive energy," she said.

In the early days, the thing that overwhelmed Ga Young the most was how to cross the street. Once, it took her 5 minutes to get to the other side of the street, scared by the constant flow of cars.

Eating was easier. Although she didn't like herbs, she loved Vietnamese food so much that she gained weight. She could eat a lot of Vietnamese food, but the two dishes she remembered most were fried spring rolls and vermicelli with snails, dishes she thought of "whenever she drank alcohol".

Ga Young also tried vermicelli with bean curd and shrimp paste. The first time she ate fish cake, she didn't know how to mix the shrimp paste, so she found it difficult to like the taste. When she ate vermicelli with bean curd and knew how to mix it, she commented, "It's delicious and I want to try it again." On hot days, her favorite dish is bean curd with onions and beer.

Ga Young said she quickly adapted to life in Hanoi. Photo: Chau Sa.

During her 4 months in Hanoi, Ga Young visited most of the famous tourist attractions. The first place she visited, the morning after arriving in the capital, was Uncle Ho's Mausoleum.

"I wanted to know why Vietnamese people love Uncle Ho so much," she shared. After the visit, Ga Young said she understood more about the "patriotism and enthusiasm" of Vietnamese people.

Social media "star"

From Hanoi, Ga Young handles her online store in Korea every morning. In the afternoon, if she has time, she goes to Vietnamese class on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. The rest of the time she spends interacting with her followers on social media platforms.

"I'm a foreigner so I can't post randomly. I think a lot before sharing anything," she said.

Kim's Vietnamese learning notebook. Photo: Chau Sa.

One time, she was confused when someone called her "grandma" on social media. "I don't think I'm that old," Ga Young laughed. After her Vietnamese friends explained, she found the way she was called "very cute."

When she was called “wife,” Ga Young tried to translate each word but still didn’t understand. When she looked up the whole phrase, she burst out laughing because Korean has a similar form of address, understanding that it was just a fun way to address people on social media. She intended to respond to her followers by calling them “husband,” but was reminded that it should be “husband” instead.

When sharing articles on social networks, every time Ga Young used incorrect words or expressed incomplete meanings, readers would give comments and correct them. The fact that they took the time to correct each sentence made her understand that it was a sincere concern, a desire for her to improve, because if she was indifferent, no one would do that.

Ga Young's T-shirt has the words "Elementary Vietnamese" printed on it. Photo: Chau Sa.

In the past, Ga Young loved watching content posted by foreigners about life in Korea. When she came to live in Vietnam, she thought she could bring a similar interesting perspective. She wanted people to see her "as an interesting neighbor" from the land of kimchi.

Ga Young had maintained the habit of volunteering every year when she was in her hometown. When she heard about the storm and flood in the Central region at the end of November, she decided to contribute to the place where she lives. Because she was not fluent in Vietnamese, she had to ask her friends online for guidance and find the address to receive the aid in Hanoi. After many times of waiting without a response, an organization finally contacted Kim.

She initially planned to send sanitary napkins, an item she said was often under-resourced. When she learned that the flood-affected area was also short of instant noodles, she bought both and sent them directly.

Ga Young visits Ha Long Bay. Photo: Provided by the character.

The images of Vietnamese people coming to the place to transport relief goods moved her: "Everyone is very enthusiastic and emotional. It's not easy and helps me feel the warmth here."

Ga Young currently plans to stay in Hanoi for another year, depending on her relatives' work. Regarding her long-term plans, she said she has not made a specific decision yet.

"But recently, I've been thinking about whether I should return to Vietnam if one day I'm free to choose where to live," she confided.

Source: https://znews.vn/gap-co-gai-han-quoc-hai-huoc-nhat-viet-nam-noi-ran-ran-threads-post1609585.html