China vs Vietnam
Both are red fields with a yellow star, at 2:3. China has one large star and four smaller stars in the canton. Vietnam has one large star in the center and no small stars. Extra stars mean China.
- Proportion
- 2:3
- Adopted
- 1949
Colors
- Red #DE2910
- Yellow #FFDE00
- Proportion
- 2:3
- Adopted
- 1955
Colors
- Red #DA251D
- Yellow #FFCD00
Look foron China
Look foron Vietnam
- One large star and four small stars in an arcOne large yellow star, centered
- Stars sit in the canton, not the centerNo smaller stars
- Adopted September 27, 1949Adopted November 30, 1955
Which flag is China?
One Star or Five
China's flag was designed by Zeng Liansong and adopted on September 27, 1949. It was raised in Tiananmen Square on October 1, 1949. The large star stands for the Communist Party; the four smaller stars, in an arc in the canton, stand for four social classes in the catalog text. Proportion is 2:3.
Vietnam's flag is a red field with one large yellow five-pointed star centered, at 2:3. It was adopted on November 30, 1955, for North Vietnam, and became the flag of the unified state in 1976. The catalog credits Nguyễn Hữu Tiến and reads the star as five social classes in one star, not as five separate stars.
A single centered star is Vietnam. A large star plus four small ones toward the hoist is China.
Telling them apart
- China: five stars, canton cluster.
- Vietnam: one star, geometric center.
- Both are 2:3 red fields.
Questions
When was China's flag first raised?
The catalog date of adoption is September 27, 1949. It was first raised on October 1, 1949.
More lookalikes
Chad vs Romania
Chad has the darker, deeper indigo blue; Romania uses brighter royal cobalt.
Monaco vs Indonesia
Monaco is miniature and squarish (4:5); Indonesia is island-wide (longer 2:3 rectangle).
Australia vs New Zealand
New Zealand has No Commonwealth Star and uses red stars; Australia uses all-white seven-pointed stars.
Ireland vs Ivory Coast
Ireland starts with Green on the left; Ivory Coast starts with Orange on the left.