South-Eastern Asia > Viet Nam Flag

The flag of Vietnam from 1976, officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, also known as the "red flag with yellow star" (cờ đỏ sao vàng), was designed in 1940 and used that year during an uprising against French rule in Cochinchina. The flag was used by the Việt Minh, a communist-led organization created in 1941 to oppose Japanese occupation. When the Japanese surrendered at the end of World War II, Việt Minh leader Hồ Chí Minh proclaimed the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in Hanoi with himself as president. Hồ signed a decree on September 5, 1945 adopting the Việt Minh flag as the flag of the DRV. The DRV became the government of North Vietnam in 1954 following the Geneva Accords. The flag was modified in 1955 to make the edges of the star sharper. The red background was inspired by the flag of the communist party, which in turn honors the red flag of the Paris Commune of 1871. It symbolizes revolution and blood. The five-pointed yellow star represents the unity of workers, peasants, intellectuals, traders and soldiers in building socialism. Until Saigon was captured in 1975, South Vietnam used a yellow flag with three red stripes. The red flag of North Vietnam became the flag of a united Vietnam when the Socialist Republic of Vietnam was formed on July 2, 1976.