The yellow flag was always the symbol of Vietnamese nationalism since the days of the heroic Trung Sisters. It became the official flag of the entire nation of Vietnam, from north to south, following the enthronement of the Nguyen Emperor Gia Long in 1802. The yellow flag was the symbol of the Imperial Nguyen Dynasty and was proudly displayed on the King's Knight before the Ngo Mon gate to the Imperial City in Hue.
Over the years, there were subtle changes to the flag, but the basic design of the red design on a yellow field never changed, these colors were part of the national pride of all Vietnamese, in their history, their culture and their emperors. The yellow had deep symbolic meanings for Viet Nam. It represented the land and the people. It was also the color of the Nguyen Dynasty and the color of the robes worn by the Emperor.
A yellow flag with a broad red stripe was first designed to be the first official flag of the Emperor's government, also known as the "King's Flag", and was displayed on all official government buildings and universities.
In 1948, when the first recognized, independent nationalist government of Viet Nam was formed, it was agreed that the official national flag would have to be of the same design as the traditional Vietnamese colors that everyone recognized as symbolizing the old and great nation of free Viet Nam and the native Nguyen Dynasty. Prime Minister Nguyen Van Xuan submitted the designs to H.M. Emperor Bao Dai who approved the final version of the yellow flag with three horizontal stripes to denote the unity in freedom of Tonkin, Annam & Cochinchina; showing everyone that the great Dai Viet was restored.
Even during all of the subsequent trials and hardships Viet Nam was forced to endure over the next thirty years, the flag of the original nationalist government of Emperor Bao Dai continued to be used by all free Vietnamese who opposed the conquest of the Communist Party. The brave men and women who defended the rights of their people fought just as their ancestors, from the Trung Sisters to Emperor Gia Long had fought, under the sacred yellow flag of free Viet Nam. |