Vietnam Flag History: 1945 Red Flag, South Vietnam Flag & Reunification
Vietnam’s modern flag history reflects the country’s revolution, partition and reunification. Two very different flags represented competing Vietnamese states during the twentieth century.
1945: the red flag with yellow star
The Democratic Republic of Vietnam adopted a red flag with a central yellow star in 1945. The design became the flag of North Vietnam after the country’s division in the 1950s.
1955: the star design is refined
The star’s shape was refined in the 1950s into the sharp five-pointed form familiar today.
What flag did South Vietnam use?
The Republic of Vietnam, commonly called South Vietnam, used a yellow flag with three horizontal red stripes. The design had earlier been used by the State of Vietnam and remained the South Vietnamese state flag until 1975.
Why are there “two Vietnam flags” in historical material?
During the Vietnam War, North and South Vietnam were separate political states with different flags. Historical photographs, museums and diaspora communities therefore preserve both designs.
1975–1976: reunification
After the fall of Saigon in 1975, the Republic of Vietnam ceased to exist. When the Socialist Republic of Vietnam was formally established in 1976, the red flag with yellow star became the national flag of the unified country.
What is the current flag?
Today, Vietnam’s official national flag is the red 2:3 rectangle with one central yellow five-pointed star, as defined by the Constitution.
Quick comparison
| Current Vietnam | Red field, one yellow star |
|---|---|
| Former South Vietnam | Yellow field, three red horizontal stripes |
| Current flag ratio | 2:3 |
