The flag of Vietnam with a red background and a yellow star in the middle is the pride of Vietnamese people in all regions of the country.
The national flag always appears in people’s lives, at landmarks and turning points of the history of struggle, symbolizing the national sovereignty of a country that has unitedly determined to defend and build the country.
Besides telling the meanings of the Vietnamese flag, Vietnamdrive also adds more information about this vital flag. You can see each sector in the menu below and jump to any content you like to read.
- Vietnam flag meaning
- Size of the current Vietnam flag
- Vietnam flag before 1975
- Some notes when flying the Vietnamese flag
- The Vietnam flag is not allowed to be flown in the following cases
- Vietnam flag at typical events in history and now
- Famous flagpoles in Vietnam to visit
- FAQs about the Vietnamese flag
Vietnam flag meaning
For a long time, the red flag with the yellow star is the soul of a nation, the symbol of Vietnam and the Vietnamese people .
The flag is the soul, the pride, an inviolable sacred symbol of another country on the Vietnamese national identity.
The Vietnamese flag represents territorial integrity, being a sovereign and free country, symbolizing the consensus of the nation to unite, stick together, commit to suffering from war to peacetime.
The color of the Vietnamese flag is also extremely important, symbolizing the people of a free country.
The red color of the flag background represents the color of blood, which is the red blood of the nation, the intense vitality of the public on the S-shaped land.
The yellow color of the star is the skin color of Vietnamese people, red blood, and yellow skin. It can be said that the Vietnamese flag is the Vietnamese people and nation.
Moreover, the five-pointed star represents the five main classes in Vietnamese society, including Si (Student) – Cong (Worker) – Nong (Farmer) – Thuong (Trader) – Binh (Soldier).
- Students are intellectuals who contribute to education for sustainable development;
- Workers are the people who contribute to the construction of the country, typically during the renovation period;
- Farmers are an indispensable class in a country still rich in agricultural colors in Vietnam – a force producing material wealth for the daily needs of the people;
- Traders help goods to be transported from one region to another, supporting to make the exchange and trade more lively;
- Soldiers are an extremely important force to protect the country, maintain territorial integrity, and keep people’s lives peaceful.
In short, the national flag has extremely important meanings and sacred features to the Vietnamese people, which are freedom, peace, love, and vitality.
>> Read more the meaning of Vietnam.
Size of the current Vietnam flag
The national flag of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is rectangular in shape, with a width equal to 2/3 of its length, a red background, and a 5-pointed yellow star in the middle.
Does that mean:
- Length of flag = a, width = 2/3a; or 3a long, 2a wide.
- Star: From the center of the flag to the end of the star’s convex angle = 1/5a, from the center to concave angle = 1/10a.
- Color: Bright red background, Bright yellow star.
How to place stars: The yellow star has 5 convex and 5 concave corners, the center of the star is located at the center of the flag background, a convex angle rotates straight up at a perpendicular line.
So with the standard size according to the ratio of 3a long, 2a wide above, the Vietnam flag has many different sizes to suit each user’s needs. However, these sizes must comply with the regulation of the corresponding ratio between the length and the width in the correct proportion.
For quick lookup, here are some popular sizes of the National Flag, including the following:
- Small country flag size includes: 60cm x 90cm; 70cm x 105cm; 80cm x 120cm; 90cm x 135cm; 120cm x 180cm; 140cm x 210cm.
- The size of the large national flag: 2m x 3m; 4m x 6m; 6m x 9m.
Vietnam flag before 1975
The national flag is a symbol of the national sovereignty of a country.
Vietnam has a long history of the resistance war against foreign invaders, more than 4000 years of building and defending the country.
Therefore, the national flag pattern of Vietnam has also changed in different periods to match the historical process, the development of society, and the people’s wishes.
Vietnamdrive collects and introduces you to three vital flags in Vietnam before 1975, including the flag of the Nguyen Dynasty, the Vietnam north flag – which becomes the current flag, and the southern Vietnam flag.
Flag of Nguyen Dynasty
Long Tinh flag, also called dragon flag, is to symbolize the royal and national power of the Nguyen Dynasty during 1802-1945.
The dragon flag underwent some changes during several king lifetimes. In the 1920-1945 period, its shape was a flag with a red stripe between the two sides of the yellow representing the Lac Viet bloodline in the imperial land.
Long Tinh flag appeared with important court ceremonies, such as when the court set up a ceremony to celebrate the 40th birthday of King Khai Dinh in 1925, and the dragon flag was also considered as the national flag of Vietnam under the Nguyen dynasty.
Vietnam north flag
From the early years of the twentieth century, the red flag with a 5-pointed yellow star of Vietnam first appeared in the Nam Ky (Cochinchina) uprising on November 23, 1940.
The flag fluttered in front of the headquarters of the Communist Party of Vietnam. network in My Tho, Vinh Long province, South Vietnam. (Source: quangngai.gov.vn)
The author of the flag is Nguyen Huu Tien, a former teacher, born on March 5, 1901, in Yen Bac commune, Duy Tien district, Ha Nam province today. In 1927, Nguyen Huu Tien joined the Revolutionary Youth Union. In 1931, he was arrested and taken to Con Dao prison by the enemy. In 1935, Nguyen Huu Tien and several political prisoners escaped from Con Dao prison, returned to the mainland. He did revolutionary activities in Can Tho, then was assigned to be in charge of propaganda and printing of revolutionary documents. With that premise, Huu Tien created a red flag with a yellow star.
During the length and years of the nation’s history, in many big and small events of the state, branches, and classes, at home and abroad, … especially in milestones, the turning point of the history of struggle, defense and construction of the country, all have the appearance of the red flag with a yellow star – the national flag of Vietnam.
Perhaps the unforgettable image with the entire Vietnamese nation is that right after the August Revolution was successful, the official birthday of Vietnam – President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence. At this time, the red flag with the yellow star was fluttering on the stage and under Ba Dinh square, making the atmosphere of Independence Day even more sacred and meaningful.
Since then, it was considered the official flag of North Vietnam before 1975, showing independence and nation proud. In almost vital events that happened in North Vietnam, the national flag had appeared solemnly.
Southern Vietnam flag
Besides Vietnam’s red flag with a yellow star, there was another notable flag before 1975 which was the flag of the Liberation Front of South Vietnam.
It is the flag of Southern Vietnam, of the National Front for the Liberation, with a rectangular shape, half red, half blue, and with a yellow star in the middle. This flag is affectionately called: Liberation Flag.
This southern half-red, half-blue flag was flown on the tank entering the Independence Palace on April 30, 1975, marking the victory of the resistance war to protect and unify the country.
Meaning of this south Vietnam’s flag: the upper half (red) represents the independent North. The lower half (blue) represents the South that has not yet been independent, still under the domination of the US and Ngo Dinh Diem’s government.
The flag of the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam was used from 1960 to 1975.
After the unification of the country, on July 2, 1976, the Government chose the red flag with a yellow star as the official national flag of Vietnam. That shows that the North and the South have been unified, and the country has collected one term.
Some notes when flying the Vietnamese flag
When using the Vietnamese national flag, it is necessary to pay attention to the following notes.
- When setting up the National Flag, pay attention not to put the star upside down.
- If there are portraits of leaders together with the national flag, the photo must be lower than the national flag or put the photo on the background of the national flag under the star.
- National flags are used or carried away at places were meetings, mass mobilization, production emulation, and revolutionary movements.
- The flag of ships when operating at ports with foreign ships must fly the Vietnamese national flag at the top of the highest mast of the ship, from sunrise to sunset.
- The flags in the decoration of the ceremony held in the hall shall be in the background or on the flagpole on the left side of the stage. It means the National Flag on the right, the Party flag on the left, viewed from the hall.
- Using the national flag in the festivals, the Vietnam flag must be in a solemn place, higher than the festival and religious flags; only hang festival or religious flags at the festival site and during its time.
The Vietnam flag is not allowed to be flown in the following cases
The flying of the country’s flag must be carried out strictly according to regulations. In the following cases, it will be prohibited to fly the Vietnam flag:
- Do not fly the national flag in case it does not have regulations on size and shape.
- Not use a faded, torn, or punctured national flag.
- Not hang the Vietnamese flag on sidewalks and walkways.
- Not fly the national flag in hidden, dark places or undersigns, billboards advertising foodservice businesses, motels, business establishments, bars.
- Not set up the country’s flag under unsightly objects such as curtains, sunshades, dust covers, poles or strings for drying clothes, etc.
Vietnam flag at typical events in history and now
The national flag often appears in important events, for example, in meetings and sports activities.
Below will be images of the Vietnam flag in special events of the nation’s history and modern life. When looking at these images, many people feel proud of the country.
The Vietnamese flag flutters in the wind
The first is a photo of the Vietnamese flag fluttering in the wind, which reminds us of an extraordinary sense of peace. The flag flutters as a symbol of national independence, the freedom that Vietnam has lost a lot of sweat, blood, and effort to be won.
The flag of victory on April 30, 1975
The next image of the flag on the day of victory, the moment when Vietnam was completely independent of the North and South. The red flag with a yellow star was flown on the top of the Independence Palace, opening a new page in the construction and protection of the homeland of the Vietnamese people.
The Vietnamese flag facing the sea and islands
The image of the Vietnam flag is firmly planted on the sea and islands where the soldiers are guarding day and night. Especially when it comes to the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagoes, the Vietnamese flag always shows the proud belief and firm belief of the Sea – Land – Sky of the fatherland Vietnam.
Flags in sports events cheering for football
In every sporting event to support football, the flag of Vietnam comes all over the stadium. Even the flag is printed, glued on the cheek, made into a banner of each fan. The image of the flag, engraved in each person’s mind, is both a cheerleader, a source of strength, and a fighting belief for the players.
Famous flagpoles in Vietnam to visit
When traveling to Vietnam, you will see some flagpoles that are proud of the Vietnamese. Among many flagpoles, Vietnadrive would introduce you to the top 4 well-known ones as below.
- Hue flagpole belongs to the architectural complex of Hue ancient capital, right in front of Ngo Mon (Noon Gate) of Hue Imperial Palace. The flagpole has two parts, including a foundation with a height of 17.5m and a flag tower of 37m high.
- Lung Cu flagpole is located at the northernmost point of Vietnam, in Lung Cu commune, Dong Van district, Ha Giang province. Lung Cu flagpole is about 1,500m above sea level. This flag pole has a height of 30m, so you can see it from far away.
- Hanoi flagpole situates in the old citadel of Thang Long, on Dien Bien Phu Street, Hanoi City, 40m in length and the square of foundation and 8-sided cylindrical of the pole. This flagpole has a big value in history and architecture in the central Hanoi capital.
- Hien Luong flagpole is located north of Ben Hai River, in the territory of Quang Tri province, which once divided the North and South during the Vietnam War. The flagpole is the belief of victory and the tireless fighting spirit of the public for national independence.
Frequently asked about Vietnamese flag
1. When do people use the Vietnam flag?
On the official holidays in Vietnam or during the traditional Tet holidays, people will hang the flag in front of the house or the door. That means to express the people’s enthusiasm to celebrate the holiday.
So, on important occasions, you will see red in the sky on the roads, streets, and even in the countryside.
2. Where can I buy a Vietnamese flag?
In most of the local markets in Vietnam, you can find and buy Vietnamese flags. Besides, you can find T-shirts designed with a flag with red background and a yellow star.
Price of one normal flag or T-shirt from 60,000 dongs.
3. How can I use the national flag of Vietnam?
It is so nice to cheer up the spirit for the football players in Vietnam with a national flag, or you can wear a T-shirt in the design of a red flag and yellow star.
Most people are also happy when you wear that T-shirt to visit tourist destinations in the country.