Laos

Local Name: ສາທາລະນະລັດປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ
ISO Code: LA LAO 418
FIPS 10-4 Code: LA
MARC Code: la
IOC Code: LAO

The current flag was adopted in 1975 and was the flag of the Pathet Lao. It replaced the flag used since 1952. The flag of Laos is one of the few communist-style flags not featuring a star.

The colors of the flag represent:

Red: the blood shed in the fight for freedom;
Blue: wealth;
White: represents the full moon over the Mekong River as well as unity under the communist government.

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The blue in Laotian flag meaning the Mekong River. The white circle is the symbol of reunification of two Laotian regions divided by the river (Robert Lacontre in Le Figaro 6.1.78)
Jaume Ollé, 11 September 1999

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Smith says that the white disk represents the promise of a bright new future for the country.

Znamierowski says that white represents the unity of the multiethnic [Laotian] society under Communist rule.

DK Pocket Book says:

• (caption on the left of the flag): "The white disc on a blue stripe represents the full moon over Mekong river."
• (caption on the right of the flag): "The white disc symbolizes unity under Communism."
• (in text): "In the centre is a white disc symbolizing the unity of the people under the leadership of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party and the country's bright future.[...] The white disc on a blue background is also said to represent a full moon against the Mekong river."

Ivan Sache, 25 March 2003

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I recently read the book, "The Politics of Ritual and Remembrance: Laos Since 1975" (which is quite interesting despite the apparently boring title.) In it there is a long footnote about the current flag of Laos and the previous one. About the previous one (1952-1975,) it was originally the flag of the Kingdom of Luang Phabang (one of the three Kingdoms that Laos broke into about 200 years ago, the other 2 being Champasak in the south which gave up all sovereignty in 1946 and Vientiane which was destroyed by the Thais in 1828.) The three-headed elephant is the mount of the Hindu god Indra who is very popular in Laos. The story that it represents the three kingdoms becoming one was made up much later as is a bit ironic considering that it originally represented only one of those kingdoms!

In the 40's a group called "Free Laos" or "Lao Issara" sprang up to fight the French, and they declared their own state after the occupying Japanese surrendered in 1945. The state lasted about 6 months (and was never recognized) before the French regained control. The Lao Issara wanted a national flag that would have no royal symbol on it to be separate from the royal flag (as Thailand had done.) The design they choose was the current Lao flag, though I don't know if they ever officially made it the flag of Laos. Whatever the case, the communist Pathet Lao liked to pretend that they were the successors to the Lao Issara.
Robert Wilson, 26 December 2002

The construction sheet given reveals that the middle stripe is indeed double the width of each of the red stripes, and that the disk diameter is 2/5 of hoist.
Željko Heimer, 4 April 2002