List of flags of Vietnam facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Flags are special symbols that tell a story about a country, its history, and its people. Vietnam has a rich history, and because of that, it has had many different flags over time. This article will show you some of the most important flags of Vietnam, from the official national flag to historical banners and flags used by different groups.

The National Flag

The national flag is the most important flag for any country. It represents the whole nation.

Current National Flag

Official Flag

The current official flag of Vietnam is bright red with a large yellow star in the middle.

Flag	Date	What it's used for	Description
	July 2, 1976 – today	State flag and civil flag	This flag has a big yellow star in the center of a red background. The red color stands for revolution and the sacrifices made. The golden star represents the five main groups of people in Vietnamese society: thinkers, farmers, workers, business people, and soldiers.

Overseas Vietnamese Flag

Some Vietnamese people living outside of Vietnam use a different flag.

Flag	Date	What it's used for	Description
A yellow flag with three red stripes.	1975 – today	Often used by Vietnamese people living in other countries.	This flag has a yellow background with three horizontal red stripes. Yellow is a traditional color for Vietnam. The three red stripes represent the three main regions of Vietnam: North, Central, and South. This flag was once the flag of South Vietnam. It is not allowed to be used in Vietnam today.

Historical National Flags

Vietnam has had many national flags throughout its history, reflecting different periods and governments.

Date	What it was used for	Description
Around 1858 – 1885	The flag used for diplomatic meetings by the Empire of Đại Nam.	A yellow flag with a gold border.
1885 – March 9, 1945	The flag of the French protectorates of Annam and Tonkin.	This flag had a French flag in the top left corner on a yellow background. It was used as the government flag.
Around 1941 – June 12, 1945	Flag of Đại Nam and the Empire of Vietnam.	A yellow flag with one large red stripe across it.
June 12 – August 30, 1945	Flag of the Empire of Vietnam.	A yellow flag with four red stripes that formed a special symbol called the Quẻ Ly.
September 2, 1945 – November 30, 1955	Flag of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam).	A large yellow star in the center of a red flag.
June 2, 1948 – July 2, 1949 July 2, 1949 – April 30, 1975	Flag of the Provisional Central Government of Vietnam, the State of Vietnam, and the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam).	A yellow flag with three red stripes. This flag was adopted by Chief of State Bảo Đại.

Imperial Flags

These flags were used by emperors and their royal families.

Flag	When it was used	What it was used for	Description
	Around 1885–1890	Flag of Emperor Đồng Khánh.	A flag with the words Đại Nam (meaning "Great South") on it.
A red flag with a single yellow stripe.	Around 1890–1920	Flag of Emperors Thành Thái, Duy Tân, and Khải Định.	A red flag with a single yellow stripe.
A yellow flag with a single red stripe.	Around 1920–1945	Flag of Emperors Khải Định and Bảo Đại.	A yellow flag with a single red stripe. This was sometimes called the "Dragon star flag."

Personal Flags of Emperors

These flags were specifically for the emperors themselves.

Flag	When it was used	What it was used for	Description
	1922–1945	Personal flag of Emperors Khải Định and Bảo Đại.	The flag had a ratio of 2:3.
Personal flag of State Chief Bảo Đại.	1948–1955	Personal flag of State Chief Bảo Đại.	The flag had a ratio of 2:3.

Presidential Flags

These flags were used by the presidents of South Vietnam.

Flag	When it was used	What it was used for	Description
	1955–1963	Presidential flag of the First Vietnamese Republic.	A yellow flag with green bamboo at the top and red words "Tiết-trực tâm-hư" (meaning "honest and modest") at the bottom.
	1964–1975	Presidential flag of the Second Vietnamese Republic.	A white flag with the coat of arms (symbol) of the Republic of Vietnam in the middle.

Political Flags

Many different political groups and parties in Vietnam's history have had their own flags. Here are a few examples.

Flag	When it was used	What it was used for	Description
	1910–1930	Flag of the Indochinese Constitutionalist Party.	A yellow flag with a red "X" shape in the center.
Flag of the Communist Party of Vietnam.	1930–	Flag of the Communist Party of Vietnam.	This flag is red with a yellow hammer and sickle symbol, representing workers and farmers.
Flag of the League for the Independence of Vietnam.	1941–1951	Flag of the League for the Independence of Vietnam (Việt Minh).	A yellow star in the center of a red flag.
Flag of the Vanguard Youth.	1945	Flag of the Vanguard Youth.	A red star in the center of a yellow flag.
Flag of the National Liberation Front for South Vietnam.	1960–1977	Flag of the National Liberation Front for South Vietnam.	A yellow star on a flag that is half red and half blue.

Religious Flags

Different religions in Vietnam also have their own special flags.

The Five-color flag, often used in festivals.
Flag of the Catholic Church in Vietnam.
Flag of Cao Đài, a unique Vietnamese religion.
Flag of the Evangelical Church of Vietnam.
Flag of Hòa Hảo, another Vietnamese religious group.
Flag of the Unified Buddhist Sangha of Vietnam and Vietnam Buddhist Sangha.

Military Flags

The military forces of Vietnam have their own flags to represent different branches and units.

Flag	Date	What it's used for	Description
Current Military Flags
	1955–today	Flag of the People's Army of Vietnam.	A yellow star in the center of a red flag, with the yellow words "Quyết thắng" (meaning "determined to win") in the top left corner.
Flag of the Vietnam People's Navy.	1955–today	Flag of the Vietnam People's Navy.	This flag is similar to the People's Army flag but has the name of the Navy at the bottom.
Flag of the Vietnam People's Air Force.	1959–today	Flag of the Vietnam People's Air Force.	This flag is similar to the People's Army flag but has the name of the Air Force at the bottom.
Historical Military Flags
Flag of the Liberation Army of South Vietnam.	1961–1976	Flag of the Liberation Army of South Vietnam.	A yellow star in the center of a flag that is half red and half blue, with the yellow words "Quyết thắng" in the top left corner.
War flag of the Republic of Vietnam.	1965–1975	War flag of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam).	A yellow flag with three red stripes and a gold eagle in the middle.

Police Flags

Police forces in Vietnam also have their own flags.

Flag	Date	What it's used for	Description
Current Police Flags
	1955–today	Flag of the Vietnam People's Public Security.	A yellow star in the center of a red flag, with the yellow words "Bảo vệ an ninh tổ quốc" (meaning "Protecting the Fatherland's Security") in the top left corner.
Historical Police Flags
Flag of the Republic of Vietnam National Police.	1955–1975	Flag of the Republic of Vietnam National Police.	A green flag with the motto "Tổ quốc, Công minh – Liêm chính" (meaning "Fatherland, Justice – Integrity") at the top, the police badge in the middle, and the name "Cảnh sát Quốc gia" (National Police) at the bottom.

Naval Flags (Ensigns)

Ensigns are flags flown on ships to show their nationality.

Flag	Date	What it's used for	Description
Historical Naval Flags
	1923–1945 1945–1949	Civil and Naval Ensign of French Indochina.	A yellow flag with a French flag in the top left corner and a swallowtail shape (cut out at the end).
Naval ensign of South Vietnam.	1952–1975	Naval ensign of the State of Vietnam and the Republic of Vietnam.	A yellow flag with three red stripes and an anchor in the middle.
Current Naval Flags
Ensign of the Vietnam Coast Guard.	1998–today	Ensign of the Vietnam Coast Guard.	A dark blue flag with the Vietnamese national symbol in the middle and a yellow arrow pointing towards the flagpole.
Naval ensign of the Vietnam People's Navy.	2014–today	Naval ensign of the Vietnam People's Navy.	A white flag with the symbol of the Vietnam People's Navy at the top and a blue stripe below.

Flags of Vietnamese Regions and Ethnic Groups

Different areas and ethnic groups within Vietnam have also used their own flags.

Provinces of the Nguyễn Dynasty

These flags were used by different provinces during the Nguyễn dynasty.

Thừa Thiên
Quảng Trị
Quảng Nam
Hanoi
Thanh Hóa
Bình Định

Areas with Special Status and Ethnic Minorities

Some regions and ethnic groups have had unique flags.

Flag	When it was used	What it was used for	Description
	1946	Flag of the Autonomous Republic of Cochinchina.	A yellow flag with two yellow stripes and three blue stripes.
Flag of the Kingdom of Sedang.	1888–1889	Flag of the Kingdom of Sedang.	A white cross in the center of a blue flag.
Flag of the Tai Dón people.	1944–1953	Flag of the Tai Dón people.	A large red square in the center of a yellow flag.
Flag of the Hmong people.	1993—	Flag of the Hmong people.	This flag features a white circle with a green border on a red background.

City Flags

Some cities in Vietnam have their own flags, though not all are official.

Flag	When it was used	What it's used for	Description
Decorative flag for Hanoi.	?	Decorative flag for Hanoi.	The symbol of Hanoi in gold on a red flag, similar to the national flag.
Unofficial flag of Haiphong.	?	Unofficial flag of Haiphong.	The seal of Haiphong (a flower) on a white flag with two red stripes at the top and bottom.

Other Flags

Company Flags

Some state-owned companies in Vietnam have their own flags.

Flag	When it was used	What it's used for	Description
	1994-today	Flag of Vietnam Electricity (EVN).	A blue flag with the EVN company logo.
	1988-today	Flag of the Vietnam Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Agribank).	A red flag with the Agribank logo and its full name.

Organization Flags

Different organizations in Vietnam also have their own flags.

Flag	When it was used	What it's used for	Description
Flag of the Vietnam Red Cross.	1946-today	Flag of the Vietnam Red Cross.	A white flag with the logo of the Vietnam Red Cross Association.
Official flag of the Vovinam Association.	1990s-today	Official flag of the Vovinam Association.	A yellow flag with the Vovinam symbol in the middle and text at the top and bottom.

Cultural Flags

These flags are used for cultural events, traditions, or to represent certain ideas.

Flag	When it was used	What it's used for	Description
		Vietnamese five-color flags.	These flags have five colorful squares inside each other (red, green, yellow, and blue). They are used in festivals and religious ceremonies.
	April 30, 1975–	"Vietnamese Heritage and Freedom Flag".	This yellow flag with three red stripes is still used by some Vietnamese people living outside Vietnam, especially those who left after the Fall of Saigon.

Monarchist Flags

These flags are used by groups who support the idea of having a king or emperor again in Vietnam.

Flag	When it was used	What it's used for	Description
		Vietnamese monarchist flag with a blue dragon.	This flag features a blue Vietnamese dragon on a yellow background with three red stripes.
Vietnamese monarchist flag with a green dragon.		Vietnamese monarchist flag with a green dragon.	This flag features a green dragon on a yellow background with three red stripes.

Proposed National Flags

Over time, different people have suggested new designs for Vietnam's national flag.

Flag	First suggested	Name / Suggested by	Description
A proposed flag for Vietnam.	Around 1912–1925	The Quốc kỳ Ngũ Tinh ("Five stars national flag") by Phan Bội Châu.	This flag had five red dots connected by an "X" shape on a yellow background.
The Reconciliation Flag of Vietnam.	January 17, 1973	The Reconciliation Flag of Vietnam.	This flag has vertical stripes of yellow, green, and red, with a white 12-pointed star in the center. The colors and star points have special meanings related to peace and freedom.