Ascot Vale resident Ricardo Garcia, 29, has been in the country for little over a year and is working and studying English at Bayside College in St Kilda.

He was travelling home from his job as a cleaner in Prahran when he was confronted by two men on the number 59 tram near the Royal Melbourne Hospital at 12.30am on February 20.

Mr Garcia said the men, who appeared intoxicated, became angry after they tried to talk to him.

Two women seated nearby were also approached by the men.

One of the men punched Mr Garcia in the left side of his head and attempted to kick him in the face.

The two men got off the tram before the Essendon tram depot.

Mr Garcia said he was left dazed and now prefers to take the train.

"On Sunday I needed to go to the city again for work and I was feeling really nervous because before I always felt safe.

"I prefer to take the train. I'm trying to avoid the tram.

"In my country there is a lot of violence but the people don't hit you in the street for nothing."

One of the men is described as Caucasian, about 24yearsold, 175 centimetres, and of a medium build, with short black hair.

The other is described as in his early 20s, 185 centimetres, with short black hair and a rat tail.

In a separate incident, a woman was treated for minor injuries after being clipped by a truck when she attempted to chase down a thief who stole her bag on a tram.

Police said the woman was on the 59 tram

on Mt Alexander Road opposite the Flemington high rise flats when she was robbed about 7.40am on February 24.

The thief grabbed her handbag before running across the road in front of west-bound traffic and into the flats.

The woman chased the man but was clipped by a passing truck before falling onto the road.

She was taken to the Royal Melbourne Hospital for treatment after sustaining minor injuries.