Recently, a viral trend known as "turning every roof into a Vietnam flag", which involves painting the Vietnam flag on rooftops, has captured the attention of social media users. Although it remains unclear who first initiated the trend, a video that sparked its rise comes from TikTok user Lê Quang Vũ (@zoloit).
While constructing a house for his parents, Quang Vũ stumbled upon a video of a young woman drawing the national flag on her roof. Inspired by the concept, he replicated the idea on his own roof, covering a total area of 150 square meters. The video documenting his process garnered over 3.3 million views and 119,000 likes.
As this trend continues to spread, a question arises: Who originally designed the Vietnamese official flag?
Historical Accounts of Vietnam’s First Red Flag With A Yellow Star
The question of who created the first red flag with a yellow star, a symbol now deeply embedded in Vietnamese identity, is a subject of historical debate. There are two prevailing narratives.
One narrative attributes the design to Lê Quang Sô, based on his 1968 memoir and further supported by his son's testimony. According to this account, Lê Quang Sô played a key role in the flag's creation, but concrete evidence to verify this claim remains scarce.
The other narrative credits Nguyễn Hữu Tiến with designing the flag. This version was given from the accounts of writer Sơn Tùng, who pieced together the story through the recollections of Năm Thái, a revolutionary veteran involved in the Cochinchina Uprising.
After careful research and document collection, Sơn Tùng published his findings in the 1981 book Nguyễn Hữu Tiến. Sơn Tùng’s retelling of the story also influenced composer Văn Cao, who went on to create the famous portrait titled Người vẽ cờ Tổ quốc, dedicated to Nguyễn Hữu Tiến.
However, neither version has been definitively proven. What is known for certain is that the red flag with a yellow star first appeared in the Cochinchina Uprising in November 1940, in Mỹ Tho province. The flag was later adopted by the Vietnamese National Popular Front in Tonkin, marking its place in the history of the nation.
How Was The Vietnamese Flag Chosen?
After Japan ousted the French colonial administration in March 1945, Emperor Bảo Đại declared the establishment of the Empire of Vietnam under Japanese control. During this tumultuous period, the question of the Vietnam flag became a topic of intense debate among intellectuals. The design of the flag—and even its colors—was the subject of much discussion. Suggestions ranged from "a red flag with a yellow star" to combinations of blue, red, and yellow.
Ultimately, after the success of the August Revolution and Emperor Bảo Đại's abdication, the Provisional Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam decided on the design of the Vietnam flag. On September 5, 1945, Decree No. 5-SL was issued, officially designating the red flag with a yellow star as the official symbol.
However, the debate did not end there. During the first National Assembly meeting, some delegates advocated for a change in the flag's color. President Hồ Chí Minh responded decisively, stating, "The red flag with a yellow star has been soaked with the blood of Vietnamese soldiers in the South and Central regions. It has traveled from Asia to Europe, and from Europe to Asia, and has been saluted with respect everywhere.
Now, unless all 25 million of our compatriots still living agree, no one has the right to change it." The assembly unanimously supported the President's sentiment, cementing the red flag with a yellow star as the official Vietnam flag.
On November 9, 1946, the new Constitution of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam was ratified, solidifying the flag's status: "The flag of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam has a red background with a five-pointed yellow star in the center."
The original version of the Vietnam flag, as outlined in the 1945 decree, differed slightly from the flag we recognize today. According to the decree, "the yellow star will have five convex and five concave points," resulting in a curved star humorously dubbed the "fat star flag."
In 1955, the government made minor adjustments to the flag to standardize its design. The curved star was replaced with a star featuring straight lines, making it easier to draw and reproduce uniformly. This design has remained the official version of the Vietnam flag ever since, representing the nation with dignity and unity.
