The flag of Vietnam, officially called the national flag of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and commonly known as the “red flag with a golden star” (Cờ đỏ sao vàng), is a red rectangular flag with a large yellow five‑pointed star in the centre. It is defined in the constitution and subsequent legal texts as a principal state symbol, with its proportions, colours, and star geometry formally specified. The present design reflects its emergence during the mid‑twentieth‑century revolutionary movement and its confirmation as the national flag following the reunification of Vietnam.
The official description states that the Vietnamese flag has a rectangular shape with a width equal to two‑thirds of its length, a bright red background, and a large yellow five‑pointed star placed in the exact centre. The red field and golden star are reproduced using standardised colour values for print and digital applications, ensuring consistent appearance across government buildings, schools, military units, and diplomatic missions.
This article outlines the flag of Vietnam’s design and layout, public visibility, widely cited meanings, historical evolution, etiquette, and practical relevance for visitors travelling through Vietnamese cities, transport networks, and civic spaces.
📌 Flag of Vietnam: Key Takeaways
- Status: The flag of Vietnam is the officially recognised national flag of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, enshrined in the constitution as a core state symbol.
- Visibility: The Vietnamese flag appears on government offices, schools, military facilities, embassies, and in public squares, and is highly prominent during national holidays and commemorations.
- Specification: The design is a red rectangular field with a large centred yellow five‑pointed star, typically in a 2:3 width‑to‑length proportion.
- Identification: The flag is recognised by its plain red background and single, upright yellow star with one point facing directly upward in the centre.
- Interpretation: Common references describe the red as symbolising revolution and sacrifice, and the yellow star as representing the unity of key social groups and the collective aspirations of the Vietnamese people.
Public Presence of the Vietnamese Flag
Travellers arriving in Vietnam at gateways such as Nội Bài International Airport in Hanoi capital of Vietnam and Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City typically see the national flag on tall flagpoles near terminal access roads, car‑park entrances, and “Vietnam” welcome signage. Inside terminal buildings, smaller flags are often displayed behind immigration counters, at customs exits, and on information desks, forming part of visual identity alongside Vietnamese and English wayfinding signs.
During national holidays, such as National Day and Reunification Day, the number of flags displayed in public and residential areas increases significantly, with flags hung on balconies, shopfronts, lampposts, and along main roads. Outside major commemorations, many government buildings maintain permanent flag display, while smaller private properties and alleys show more variable usage, meaning visibility tends to be highest around administrative districts, major boulevards, and cultural or historical sites.
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Design and Layout of the Vietnam Flag
The Vietnamese flag follows a simple but strictly defined layout in which colour, proportion, and the star’s geometry are precisely regulated. The table below summarises the principal technical characteristics described in constitutional and vexillological references.
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Orientation | Horizontal rectangular flag |
| Colors | Red field, yellow five‑pointed star |
| Digital colors | Red approx HEX #DA251D / RGB 218, 37, 29; yellow approx HEX #FFCD00 / RGB 255, 205, 0 |
| Print colors | Red and yellow expressed through CMYK and Pantone codes for national use |
| Color arrangement | Solid red background with single yellow five‑pointed star centred |
| Emblem or symbol placement | Yellow star perfectly centred, one point facing directly upward |
| Official proportions | Width‑to‑length ratio 2:3 for the national flag |
Specifications set ratios for the star’s size relative to the flag’s length and angles for the points, ensuring that official flags maintain uniform appearance across land and maritime contexts.
Flag of Vietnam: Meaning and Symbolism
Red spreads across the banner, a mark left by past fights, lives given during long years pushing back foreign rule. One bright star, golden, sits centered, its five points stretching out like hands joined at the wrist. People say it stands for farmers, workers, soldiers, intellectuals, merchants - each corner a role pulled into shared purpose. This emblem rose when voices demanded self-rule, shaped by moments where loss carved deep paths forward. Its colors speak without words: pain turned into resolve, many made one through stubborn will. The sky holds such symbols now, stitched into cloth that waves above streets once quiet under occupation. Each ray of the star meets the next, not separate but bound, forged in times when giving up was never an option.
One common view holds that the star's five arms stand for laborers, farmers, troops, thinkers, because society then shaped its image. Though descriptions often tie the layout to upheaval times when it first appeared, depending on where you look - school books, party materials, official guides - the labels shift a little bit now and again.
What the Vietnam Flag Represents
- The red field: is widely described as representing revolution, sacrifice, and the long struggle for national independence.
- The yellow star: is commonly interpreted as symbolising the unity of the Vietnamese people under shared leadership.
- The five points of the star: are often said to denote workers, peasants, soldiers, intellectuals, and youth or comparable social groups.
How to Identify the Flag of Vietnam
At international airports, border crossings, and seaports, the Vietnamese flag often appears among many national banners, so accurate recognition relies on clear observation of its simple but distinctive layout. Its plain red field and single yellow star set it apart from more complex multicolour designs.
- Look for a rectangular flag with a completely solid red background and no additional stripes or shapes.
- Check the exact centre of the flag for a single large yellow five‑pointed star.
- Confirm that one point of the star faces directly upward, with the star symmetrically arranged around its centre.
- Verify that there are no other stars, crescents, coats of arms, or text elements on the field.
- Distinguish the Vietnam flag from similar red‑and‑yellow designs by the presence of only one centred golden star on a plain red background.
Similar Flags Commonly Confused With the Vietnamese Flag
A small number of flags share red backgrounds or star motifs with the Vietnamese flag, which can cause confusion at a distance or in stylised graphics. The table below summarises some commonly compared flags and key visual distinctions.
| Commonly confused with | Shared visual elements | Key difference |
|---|---|---|
| China flag | Red field and yellow stars | Five smaller stars, one large and four small, offset toward the hoist. |
| Cameroon flag | Yellow star on flag | Green‑red‑yellow vertical tricolour with central star, not a single‑colour field. |
| Burkina Faso flag | Red field with yellow star | Two horizontal bands of red and green with a small central star, not an all‑red background. |
| Morocco flag | Red field with central emblem | Green pentagram star without yellow colouring, different geometry. |
| Soviet Union historical flag | Red field and yellow emblem | Hammer and sickle with star in canton, not a single central star. |
History of the Flag of Vietnam
The history of Vietnam’s national flag reflects successive phases of dynastic rule, colonial domination, revolutionary struggle, and political reunification. Various historical flags preceded the current red flag with a yellow star, which emerged out of mid‑twentieth‑century independence movements before becoming the emblem of the unified state.
- Early dynasties: Vietnamese rulers use banners often influenced by Chinese imperial styles, including dragon and other symbolic motifs.
- French colonial era: Flags representing colonial authority and local regimes coexist, while early nationalist movements begin to adopt distinct banners.
- 1940s: The red flag with a yellow star appears as the banner of the Viet Minh during the struggle against colonial and occupying forces.
- 1945: Following the declaration of independence in Hanoi, the “red flag with a golden star” is adopted as the flag of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
- 1976: After the reunification of North and South Vietnam, the same red flag with a centred yellow star becomes the national flag of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
Vietnam Flag Etiquette for Visitors: Common Dos and Don’ts
In Vietnam, the national flag is widely displayed and regarded with respect, especially around national days and historical commemorations. Visitors typically encounter general expectations of dignified behaviour, while government bodies and schools follow more detailed internal regulations.
As you explore the best things to do in Vietnam, the following table summarises commonly observed behaviours and typical avoidances without framing them as formal instructions.
| Commonly observed | Typically avoided |
|---|---|
| Clean, intact flags flown on official flagpoles at state buildings and schools. | Leaving tattered or severely faded flags displayed on public institutions. |
| Flag raised and lowered in coordinated routines during national ceremonies and events. | Using the flag in ways that appear mocking, provocative, or deliberately disrespectful. |
| National flag displayed prominently at monuments, museums, and memorials. | Obstructing the flag with commercial banners or unrelated decorations. |
| Observance of guidelines on size and placement at government and military sites. | Adding unauthorised symbols or text to the national flag in public contexts. |
| Respectful behaviour when photographing or standing near flags during formal occasions. | Treating the flag as a casual decorative item in solemn or official environments. |
Flag of Vietnam: Practical Travel Tips for Tourists
The Vietnamese flag is visible at airports, seaports, bus terminals, and public squares, so its presence can help travellers confirm arrival in Vietnam and identify government or civic buildings. Recognising the red flag with a golden star complements maps, route diagrams, and bilingual signage when navigating cities and regional routes.
- Movement: Visitors typically travel between cities such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, and Hue using domestic flights, intercity buses, and trains, where flags are visible at station façades, terminal forecourts, and administrative offices.
- Navigation: Central squares and people’s committee buildings often feature tall flagpoles with the national flag, offering clear visual reference points that align with both printed and digital maps.
- Language: Vietnamese is the primary language on public signs, with English present at many tourist facilities; the flag’s design remains the same across regions regardless of local language use.
- Payments: Card and mobile payments are increasingly common in urban areas, while cash continues to be widely used, with flags mainly marking institutions rather than payment systems.
- Networks: Major Vietnamese mobile operators provide broad coverage across cities and main travel corridors, supporting reliable use of navigation apps, translation tools, and booking platforms.
Continuous connectivity also helps travellers check the time difference in Vietnam and coordinate communications with contacts in other countries.
Staying Connected in Vietnam with SimCorner
Stable mobile data access supports navigation from arrival at Vietnamese airports and land borders through onward journeys to cities, coastal destinations, and highland areas. Map services, ride‑hailing platforms, accommodation apps, and messaging all benefit from continuous local connectivity instead of intermittent roaming.
SimCorner offers eSIM Vietnam options and physical Vietnam SIM cards designed for visitors seeking predictable data volumes, transparent pricing, and access to major local networks. Typical offerings highlight quick setup via QR code or SIM insertion, hotspot use for additional devices, and the absence of roaming fees within Vietnam under clear plan conditions. Reliable data access also helps travellers research top things to do in Vietnam while on the move and confirm where is Vietnam relative to neighbouring countries when organising multi‑country routes across Southeast Asia.
Conclusion
The flag of Vietnam functions as a concise but powerful visual marker of national identity, revolutionary history, and civic authority across airports, ports, streets, and public institutions. Recognising the red flag with a golden star and understanding its context supports orientation, cultural awareness, and informed movement throughout the country.
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