Laos’s flag (2 December 1975) is a horizontal triband—red, blue (double‑height), red—with a white disc centred. Red signifies the people’s blood and struggle; blue the Mekong, prosperity, and the nation; the white disc the moon over the Mekong and the unity of the Lao people. Ratio 2:3; statutes specify disc diameter and placement, colours, protocol, half‑masting, and retirement.
The flag of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic was adopted on 2 December 1975, replacing the royal tricolour with a banner associated with the Lao Issara movement. Its composition—red, blue, red with a central white disc—has become one of Southeast Asia’s most recognisable.
Design
and Specification The proportion is 2:3. The central blue band is double the height of each red band. The white disc is centred on the flag’s vertical and horizontal axes, with a diameter set as a fixed fraction of the flag’s height in official drawings. Colour references for the deep blue and red are codified; procurement guidelines prevent shade drift and mis‑centred discs.
Symbolism Red denotes the people’s sacrifices; blue represents the Mekong River and national prosperity; the white disc is read as the full moon over the Mekong and the unity of the Lao people. Explanations emphasise socialist struggle and national cohesion without monarchical insignia.
Protocol
and Usage Rules govern respectful handling, precedence with foreign flags, half‑masting during mourning, and dignified retirement. The flag is displayed on state buildings, schools, and diplomatic missions, and it appears alongside party and organisational banners in official ceremonies according to protocol diagrams.
Continuity Since 1975 the design has been stable, with educational outreach focusing on correct disc size and exact centring—critical for visual balance on large public displays and televised events.