Flag of Laos

Meaning and history of the flag of Laos

Laos's flag consists of three horizontal stripes: a wide dark blue band in the center flanked by narrower red stripes at the top and bottom. At the center of the blue band sits a white disc representing the full moon over the Mekong River, as well as national unity under the Pathet Lao government. Red symbolizes the blood shed in the fight for independence, and blue represents the country's wealth and prosperity.

This flag was adopted on December 2, 1975, when the Pathet Lao abolished the monarchy and established the Lao People's Democratic Republic. It is the only flag of a communist country that does not carry traditional communist symbols such as a red star, hammer, or sickle. The design was originally conceived by Maha Sila Viravong in the 1940s as the flag of the Lao Issara independence movement.

Laos's flag stands out among Southeast Asian flags for its sober, balanced design. The central white disc sets it apart from the flags of Cambodia and Thailand, which also use red and blue stripes. Notably, Laos, one of the world's few remaining communist states, has kept a flag without the red star that marks Vietnam, China, or the former Soviet Union, opting instead for a more neutral, culturally rooted symbol of unity.

You can view the flag of Laos in high resolution above and download it in several sizes for personal, educational or reference use. To explore more, visit the full Laos profile, its map, or the current local time in Vientiane.