A city in the US state of California has banned the flag of the communist Socialist Republic of Vietnam from being displayed on city flagpoles.

The move follows a unanimous decision from members of the San Jose City Council after the measure was first proposed by councilman Tam Nguyen, reports the Mercury News.

San Jose is the first Bay Area city to ban the emblem – red with a gold star – from flying on city property, however, the communist flag can still fly in the city.

The former Republic of Vietnam, also known as South Vietnam, was backed by the United States during the Vietnam War and was represented with a yellow flag with three horizontal red stripes.

South Vietnam fell to communist insurgents in 1975.

– TiVi Tuan-san