The Vietnam Flag: A Testament to History and the Evolution of National Pride

1. History Of The Vietnam Flag

Vietnam’s past is troubled, bountiful and intricate. Foreign occupation, resistance and civil wars punctuate it consistently. Along with this it has witnessed various flags representing dynasties, governments and republics that have taken place over time.

During earliest periods of Christian era signs of ancient dynasties remained unknown or perhaps their traces have vanished till today’s date. However, several brands became synonymous with Viet Nam from the Eighteenth Century onward since they got involved in what we would refer to hereafter as flagging confusion. The country has seen nearly ten distinct representations of flags between the period ranging from 1770 to 1955 before adopting its present official flag in 1976.

We can see on almost all of these old Vietnamese flags the permanent presence of a golden yellow background and red circles or lines. Even though there have been fluctuations through time durable yellow red combined colors denoting nations symbolically important mysterious characteristics remain constant throughout their existence.

2. How Has The Vietnamese Flag Changed Throughout Its Existence?

2.1 The flags of Viet Nam in the ancient dynasties

The color golden yellow was everywhere in the age of ancient dynasties. This golden yellow expressed the imperial color, a color to be reserved only for the emperor under whose reign the country was independent. 

It was thus associated with the symbol of independence and the nation, while red represented a prosperous color, that of prosperity and success. Independence, prosperity under the celestial role of the emperors—such is the meaning of the Vietnamese flags of this time.

2.2 The Nguyen flag from 1890 to 1920

Much later, at the end of the Nguyen dynasty in 1920, a flag with a yellow background, symbolizing the Vietnamese people, and three red lines representing the three regions of Vietnam—Tonkin, Annam, and Cochinchina—was created

2.3 The flag of the Empire of Viet Nam from March 1945 to August 1945

After the Japanese coup against the French in March 1945, the Empire of Vietnam was declared and became an allied state of the Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere. Another Vietnamese flag was created, this time with the intention of making it resemble that of Japan to some extent.

2.4 The Flag of the Republic of Vietnam Under Ngo Dinh Diem (South Vietnam)

Following the Geneva Accords in 1954, which resulted in the division of the country into two, the pro-American Republic of South Vietnam adopted the Nguyen flag from 1890 to 1920 as its official national emblem. This flag is strictly forbidden in the country today, although it still exists in some communities of the Vietnamese diaspora abroad.

2.5 The flag of the National Front in 1960 and of the Provisional Revolutionary Government in 1969 until 1976

To neutralize the government of Ngo Dinh Diem, the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam (Viet Cong) was established in 1960, declaring itself a body to call upon all Vietnamese to unite and assume leadership in the struggle for independence and national unification. This later became the Provisional Revolutionary Government of South Vietnam in 1969.

This national front decided to adopt the yellow star on a red flag, which had always been used in revolutionary movements since the end of the French war. However, this flag was divided into two parts, with the bottom blue symbolizing peace and hope, representing the National Front's aspiration for the final reunification of Vietnam.

This flag was officially adopted to represent the liberated South of Vietnam from April 30 until its dissolution in July 1976.

3. The Origin And Meaning Of The Current Vietnam Flag

The identity of the true designer of the Vietnam flag with a yellow star on a red background has not yet been established due to historical considerations and a lack of unambiguous evidence. According to historians, an unknown person may have created it during the revolutionary movements in the South in the 1940s during the Indochina War.

This Vietnamese banner was raised for the second time during the August 1945 Revolution in Hanoi by the Viet Minh. The following month, in September 1945, Ho Chi Minh signed a decree recognizing this flag as the official emblem of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam. After the collapse of the Southern Provisional Government in 1976, this Vietnamese symbol has remained the only authorized flag of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam until today.

The red background of the flag signifies blood, revolutionary martyrdom, and victory. The yellow star at its center represents the skin color and the brightness within Vietnamese hearts. The five branches of the star symbolize the solidarity of all Vietnamese people (intellectuals, farmers, workers, businessmen, and soldiers) in their fight for independence and freedom.

4. Where And When To Find Vietnam's Official National Flag?

The Vietnamese flag is a national pride, prominently featured in various places and events throughout the country. It flies over all official administrative buildings and schools.

The flag also marks sites of national sovereignty, such as the extreme border points like the Lung Cu flag tower in Ha Giang and islands in the archipelagos off the Orient Sea. It can also be seen on the roofs of historical monuments like the Hanoi Flag Tower, the Thang Long Citadel, and the Imperial City of Hue.

During major events, the Vietnamese flag is displayed on every street corner. On National Day (September 2) and National Reunification Day (April 30), the flag flutters proudly, not only at prominent sites like Lung Cu Flag Tower and Hanoi Flag Tower but also throughout the nation, drenching the country in its red color.

Additionally, Vietnamese flags are seen during morning flag salutes on Mondays, where students proudly sing the national anthem, and whenever there is a victory for the national soccer team.

5. Other Vietnamese Flags And Banners

The Communist flag 

Staying in power so far, it is also this country’s only political party. Despite minor modifications to conform to the national flag design, Vietnamese Communism has a flag with a hammer and sickle, like every other communist nation. Regardless of their purpose or importance, this communist flag can be found on any political building or during any major political activity within the country.

The flag of Buddhism, temples and banners

National symbols, such as the flag of a nation or that of the Communist Party, often find their way into administrative monuments and schools. Additionally, other flags can be found on pagodas and temples across the country, serving as religious signs and markers. Here are some examples of religious flags that travelers may encounter during their visits to Vietnam.

Buddhism flag

The Buddhist flag was created in 1880 in Sri Lanka by Henry Steel Olcott and officially adopted by the International Council of Buddhism on May 26, 1950, at an ecumenical gathering in Colombo. In Vietnam, this ancient flag is widely used and flown on many pagodas during religious manifestations of Buddhism.

The Buddhist flag consists of six colored bands. Blue represents meditation, light yellow symbolizes right thought, white represents good faith, while saffron yellow, being the synthesis of the previous five colors, symbolizes spiritual intelligence. The sixth strip, a repetition of the first five colors, evokes non-discrimination of both colors and sources. This synthetic strip of colors reflects a philosophy of life that preaches compassion and the joy of living in sacrifice without regrets.

Flags in temples

The emblems flown in temples in Vietnam are actually flags of the cosmos, interpreting the cosmological philosophy of the population. According to this philosophy, the universe is made up of five elements, each with a different color. Red represents fire, yellow represents earth, green represents wood, white represents metal, and blue is associated with water.

These main elements of the universe are constantly becoming and in a dialectical sense, which is why the order of colors on temple flags is never fixed. This means that flags of different sizes and shapes can be displayed during your visit.

Banners

In Vietnamese pagodas and temples, due to religious syncretism, banners are as numerous as religious and cosmological flags. Each banner serves a specific purpose: to remind practitioners of wisdom and moral lessons in the pagodas, to accompany the souls of the deceased in the afterlife during funerals, or simply for decoration.

The Funeral flag

Funerary flags are similar in size and shape to those found in temples. The only notable difference is in their colors; funerary flags are solely black and white.

As varied and interesting as the traditions and religions they are associated with, Vietnamese flags are truly a fascinating topic for history and culture enthusiasts. This is only a non-exhaustive list of Vietnamese flags—many other pavilions and pennants await you for a more complete discovery on site!

Conclusion

By now, you probably understand the Vietnamese flag well, right? Currently, Vietnam has only one red flag with a yellow star. It represents national pride and symbolizes patriotism, without any distinction between the flags of the South and the North. Vietnam is a peaceful and friendly country. Come and explore it today!

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