This is the heroic moment a brave female shopkeeper fought off a pair of phone snatchers and took their scooter.

The lady was handing over change to the suspects who had just bought from her roadside store in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam on March 11.

While she had her back turned, one of the men plucked her smartphone from her hands and hopped onto the scooter. However, the bungling driver failed to make a quick getaway allowing the brave storekeeper to pull on their vehicle.

CCTV footage shows the chaotic tussle as the woman engaged them in a fierce tug-of-war while screaming. The suspects even tried to spritz her face with what appeared to be pepper spray, but the frantic clerk refused to loosen her iron grip.

With the scuffle drawing attention from neighbours, the snatchers were forced to flee the scene. They appeared to have succeeded in taking the phone, but left behind their blue Honda Vario.

Police in the country, which has an endemic phone snatching issue, are now investigating the case.