The Indo Bohay community has its roots in the 16th century, when European traders, particularly Portuguese, arrived in the Malay Archipelago. Many of these traders intermarried with local Malay women, resulting in the birth of mixed-heritage children. Over time, these children and their descendants formed a distinct community, known as Indo Bohay.
One of the most distinctive aspects of Indo Bohay culture is their language. They speak a creole language, known as "Bohay," which is a mixture of Chinese dialects (such as Hokkien and Cantonese), Indian languages (like Tamil and Telugu), and Indonesian. This language is spoken by the community members in their daily lives, and it serves as a vital link to their cultural heritage.