Vietnam Flag: Meaning, Colors, History & Facts
Vietnam’s national flag is a red rectangle with one large yellow five-pointed star in the centre. Its modern form is defined in the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
What does the Vietnam flag look like?
The national flag is a red rectangle with a bright yellow five-pointed star centred on the field. The constitutional proportion is 2:3.
What does the yellow star mean?
The five-pointed star is traditionally explained as representing unity among major groups contributing to Vietnamese society. Its central placement makes it the flag’s dominant national symbol.
Explore the yellow star symbolism →
What does the red background mean?
Red is strongly associated with revolution, independence and the political struggle that led to the modern Vietnamese state.
How did the flag develop?
The red flag with yellow star became associated with the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in 1945 and later North Vietnam. During the period of division, South Vietnam used a yellow flag with three red stripes. Following reunification, the red-star design became the national flag of the unified Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
Read the full Vietnam flag history →
Why are there two different Vietnam flags in old photos?
Historical material from the Vietnam War may show either the red flag of North Vietnam or the yellow-and-red-striped flag of the Republic of Vietnam in the south. They represented separate states during the period of division.
Vietnam flag facts
| Colors | Red and yellow |
|---|---|
| Symbol | One yellow five-pointed star |
| Ratio | 2:3 |
| Current country | Socialist Republic of Vietnam |
Vietnam flag FAQ
How many stars are on Vietnam’s flag?
One.
What did South Vietnam’s flag look like?
A yellow field with three horizontal red stripes.
Is that South Vietnam flag current?
No. It is a historical flag associated with the former Republic of Vietnam and some diaspora communities.
How can you identify Vietnam’s flag?
Vietnam’s national flag is visually simple: a completely red field with one large yellow star in the exact centre. There are no stripes, border colors or additional emblems. This makes it easy to recognize even at small sizes.
Why is the former South Vietnam flag still seen today?
The yellow flag with three red stripes remains visible in some overseas Vietnamese communities and historical contexts. Its continued cultural use does not change the fact that the red flag with yellow star is the official national flag of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
Does Vietnam use different civil and state flags?
The same national red-and-yellow-star design serves as the principal state and national flag, unlike countries where civil and government variants differ visibly.
