The system of Orders, decorations, and medals of South Vietnam came into being with the establishment of the

National Order of Vietnam The National Order of Vietnam ( vi, Bảo Quốc Huân Chương) was a combined military-civilian decoration of South Vietnam and was considered the highest honor that could be bestowed upon an individual by the Republic of Vietnam government. ...

in 1950. Established by

Bảo Đại Bảo Đại (, vi-hantu, , lit. "keeper of greatness", 22 October 191331 July 1997), born Nguyễn Phúc Vĩnh Thụy (), was the 13th and final emperor of the Nguyễn dynasty, the last ruling dynasty of Vietnam. From 1926 to 1945, he was em ...

, the head of state of the

State of Vietnam The State of Vietnam ( vi, Quốc gia Việt Nam; Chữ Nôm: 國家越南; french: État du Viêt-Nam) was a governmental entity in Southeast Asia that existed from 1949 until 1955, first as a member of the French Union and later as a country ...

, the order was the highest award of the state for both civilians and military personnel. This level of precedence continued under the government of

South Vietnam South Vietnam, officially the Republic of Vietnam ( vi, Việt Nam Cộng hòa), was a state in Southeast Asia that existed from 1955 to 1975, the period when the southern portion of Vietnam was a member of the Western Bloc during part of th ...

. Lower ranking awards for both the military and civilians were subsequently established. The systems of civilian and military awards had their own order of precedence.

National Order

Knight Grand Cross : VPD National Order of Vietnam - Grand Officer BAR

Grand Officer : VPD National Order of Vietnam - Commander BAR

Commander : VPD National Order of Vietnam - Officer BAR

Officer :

Knight

Military awards and decorations

Military awards are worn in the following order: * Vietnam Military Merit Ribbon

Military Merit Medal *

Distinguished Service Order The Distinguished Service Order (DSO) is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, as well as formerly of other parts of the Commonwealth, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typ ...

Vietnam Army Distinguished Service Order Ribbon-First Class

Army First Class : Vietnam Army Distinguished Service Order Ribbon-Second Class

Army Second Class : Vietnam Air Force Distinguished Service Order Ribbon-First Class

Air Force First Class : Vietnam Air Force Distinguished Service Order Ribbon-Second Class

Air Force Second Class : Vietnam Navy Distinguished Service Order Ribbon-First Class

Navy First Class : Vietnam Navy Distinguished Service Order Ribbon-Second Class

Navy Second Class *

Meritorious Service Medal A Meritorious Service Medal is an award presented to denote acts of meritorious service, and sometimes gallantry, that are worthy of recognition. Notable medals with similar names include: *Meritorious Civilian Service Award *Meritorious Service Med ...

Vietnam Army Meritorious Service Medal ribbon

Army Meritorious Service Medal : Vietnam Air Force Meritorious Service Medal ribbon

Air Force Meritorious Service Medal : Vietnam Navy Meritorious Service Medal ribbon

Navy Meritorious Service Medal * Vietnam Special Service Medal ribbon

Special Service Medal * Gallantry Cross : Vietnam Gallantry Cross, with palm

Gallantry Cross with Palm (cited at the Armed Forces level) : 1 golden star

Gallantry Cross with Gold Star (cited at the Corps level) :

Gallantry Cross with Silver Star (cited at the Division level) :

Gallantry Cross with Bronze Star (cited at the Regiment or Brigade level) : Vietnam gallantry cross unit award-3d

Gallantry Cross Unit Award *

Air Gallantry Cross The Vietnam Air Gallantry Cross ( vi, Phi-Dũng Bội-Tinh) was a military decoration of South Vietnam which was issued during the years of the Vietnam War. The Air Gallantry Cross was awarded for meritorious or heroic conduct while engaged in a ...

Vietnam Air Gallantry Cross Gold Wing ribbon

Gold Wing Ribbon : Vietnam Air Gallantry Cross Silver Wing ribbon

Silver Wing Ribbon : Vietnam Air Gallantry Cross Bronze Wing ribbon

Bronze Wing Ribbon *

Navy Gallantry Cross The Vietnam Navy Gallantry Cross ( vi, Hải-Dũng Bội-Tinh) was a military decoration of South Vietnam which was issued during the years of the Vietnam War. The Navy Gallantry Cross was awarded to any member of the military who displayed meri ...

Vietnam Navy Gallantry Cross, Gold Anchor ribbon

Gold Anchor Ribbon : Vietnam Navy Gallantry Cross, Silver Anchor ribbon

Silver Anchor Ribbon : Vietnam Navy Gallantry Cross, Bronze Anchor ribbon

Bronze Anchor Ribbon * Vietnam Hazardous Service Medal ribbon

Hazardous Service Medal The Hazardous Service Medal ( vi, Ưu-Dũng Bội-Tinh) was a single-grade decoration awarded by South Vietnam. Established in 1964, the medal was awarded to military personnel by the Chief of the Joint General Staff, Republic of Vietnam Armed Forc ...

Life Saving Medal * Vietnam Loyalty Medal ribbon

Loyalty Medal The Loyalty Medal ( vi, Trung-Chánh Bội-Tinh) was a single-grade decoration awarded by South Vietnam. Established in 1964, the medal was awarded to South Vietnamese citizens by the Chief of the Joint General Staff, Republic of Vietnam Military ...

Wound Medal A wound is a rapid onset of injury that involves lacerated or punctured skin (an ''open'' wound), or a contusion (a ''closed'' wound) from blunt force trauma or compression. In pathology, a ''wound'' is an acute injury that damages the epiderm ...

Armed Forces Honor Medal The Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal ( vi, Danh-Dự Bội-Tinh) was a military decoration of South Vietnam that was first created on January 7, 1953. The medal was awarded in two classes and reached its height of bestowal during th ...

Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal ribbon-First Class

First class : Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal ribbon-Second Class

Second class *

Leadership Medal The Republic of Vietnam Leadership Medal ( vi, Chỉ-Đạo Bội-Tinh) was a five-grade decoration awarded by South Vietnam. Established in 1964, the medal was awarded to South Vietnamese military commanders by the Chief of the Joint General Staf ...

Vietnam Leadership Medal-Armed Forces ribbon

Armed Forces level : Vietnam Leadership Medal-Corps ribbon

Corps level : Vietnam Leadership Medal-Division ribbon

Division level : Vietnam Leadership Medal-Brigade ribbon

Brigade level : Vietnam Leadership Medal-Regiment ribbon

Regiment level : Vietnam Leadership Medal-Battalion ribbon

Battalion level : Vietnam Leadership Medal-Company ribbon

Company level * Staff Service Medal : Vietnam Staff Service Medal ribbon-First Class

First class : Vietnam Staff Service Medal ribbon-Second Class

Second class *

Technical Service Medal The Technical Service Medal ( vi, Kỹ-Thuật Bội-Tinh) was a Orders, decorations, and medals of South Vietnam, military award of South Vietnam established in 1964. The medal was awarded in two classes and was awarded for outstanding initiativ ...

Vietnam Technical Service Medal ribbon-First Class

First class : Vietnam Technical Service Medal ribbon-Second Class

Second class *

Training Service Medal The Training Service Medal ( vi, Huấn-Vụ Bội-Tinh) was a military decoration of South Vietnam. Established in 1964, the medal recognized outstanding service in an assignment at a military school or training center. It could also be awarded fo ...

Vietnam Training Service Medal ribbon-First Class

First class : Vietnam Training Service Medal ribbon-Second Class

Second class *

Civil Actions Medal The Republic of Vietnam Civil Actions Medal ( vi, Dân-Vụ Bội-Tinh) also known as the Vietnam Civil Actions Medal or Civil Actions Medal, is a military decoration of the former South Vietnamese government (1955–75). The medal was created ...

Vietnam Civil Actions Medal ribbon-First Class

First class : Vietnam Civil Actions Medal ribbon-Second Class

Second class : VNCivilActionsRibbon-2

Unit Citation * Good Conduct Medal : Vietnam Good Conduct Medal ribbon-First Class

First class : Vietnam Good Conduct Medal ribbon-Second Class

Second class : Vietnam Good Conduct Medal ribbon-Third Class

Third class : Vietnam Good Conduct Medal ribbon-Fourth Class

Fourth class : Vietnam Good Conduct Medal ribbon

Fifth class * Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp

Vietnam Campaign Medal The Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, also known as the Vietnam Campaign Medal ( vi, Chiến Dịch Bội Tinh), is a South Vietnamese military campaign medal which was created in 1949, and awarded to French military personnel during the First ...

Military Service Medal The Military Service Medal german: Wehrdienstmedaille is a military medal awarded to members of the Military of Austria. It is awarded in three classes: gold, silver, and bronze depending on length of recognized service. Established in 1963, the me ...

Vietnam Military Service Medal ribbon-First Class

First class : Vietnam Military Service Medal ribbon-Second Class

Second class : Vietnam Military Service Medal ribbon-Third Class

Third class : Vietnam Military Service Medal ribbon-Fourth Class

Fourth class : Vietnam Military Service Medal ribbon

Fifth class * Air Service Medal : Vietnam Air Service Medal ribbon-First Class

First class : Vietnam Air Service Medal ribbon-Second Class

Second class : Vietnam Air Service Medal ribbon-Third Class

Third class : Vietnam Air Service Medal ribbon

Honor class * Navy Service Medal : Vietnam Navy Service Medal ribbon-First Class

First class : Vietnam Navy Service Medal ribbon-Second Class

Second class : Vietnam Navy Service Medal ribbon-Third Class

Third class : Vietnam Navy Service Medal ribbon

Honor class * Vietnam Medal for Campaigns Outside the Frontier ribbon

Medal for Campaigns Outside the Frontier * Vietnam Air Force Northern Expeditionary Medal ribbon

Air Force Northern Expeditionary Medal

Civilian awards and decorations

Civilian awards are worn in the following order: * Kim Khanh Decoration : Vietnam Kim Khanh Decoration ribbon-Exceptional Class

Exceptional class : Vietnam Kim Khanh Decoration ribbon-First Class

First class : Vietnam Kim Khanh Decoration ribbon-Second Class

Second class : Vietnam Kim Khanh Decoration ribbon-Third Class

Third class * Chuong My Medal : Vietnam Chuong My Medal ribbon-First Class

First class : Vietnam Chuong My Medal ribbon-Second Class

Second class * Administrative Service Medal : Vietnam Administrative Service Medal ribbon-First Class

First class : Vietnam Administrative Service Medal ribbon-Second Class

Second class * Dedicated Service Medal : Vietnam Dedicated Service Medal ribbon-First Class

First class : Vietnam Dedicated Service Medal ribbon-Second Class

Second class * Justice Medal : Vietnam Justice Medal ribbon-First Class

First class : Vietnam Justice Medal ribbon-Second Class

Second class * Cultural and Educational Service Medal : Vietnam Cultural and Educational Service Medal ribbon-First Class

First class : Vietnam Cultural and Educational Service Medal ribbon-Second Class

Second class * Public Health Service Medal : Vietnam Public Health Service Medal ribbon-First Class

First class : Vietnam Public Health Service Medal ribbon-Second Class

Second class * Social Service Medal : Vietnam Social Service Medal ribbon-First Class

First class : Vietnam Social Service Medal ribbon-Second Class

Second class * Economic Service Medal : Vietnam Economic Service Medal ribbon-First Class

First class : Vietnam Economic Service Medal ribbon-Second Class

Second class *

Finance Service Medal Finance is the study and discipline of money, currency and capital assets. It is related to, but not synonymous with economics, the study of Production (economics), production, Distribution (economics), distribution, and Consumption (economics) ...

Vietnam Finance Service Medal ribbon-First Class

First class : Vietnam Finance Service Medal ribbon-Second Class

Second class * Psychological Warfare Medal : Vietnam Psychological Warfare Medal ribbon-First Class

First class : Vietnam Psychological Warfare Medal ribbon

Second class * Agricultural Service Medal : Vietnam Agricultural Service Medal ribbon-First Class

First class : Vietnam Agricultural Service Medal ribbon-Second Class

Second class * Public Works, Communication and Transportation Service Medal : First class : Second class * Labor Medal : Vietnam Labor Medal ribbon-First Class

First class : Vietnam Labor Medal ribbon-Second--Third Class

Second class : Vietnam Labor Medal ribbon-Second--Third Class

Third class * Vietnam Rural Revolutionary Development Medal ribbon

Rural Revolutionary Development Medal * Ethnic Development Medal : Vietnam Ethnic Development Medal ribbon-First Class

First class : Vietnam Ethnic Development Medal ribbon-Second Class

Second class * Veterans Medal : Vietnam Veterans Medal ribbon-First Class

First class : Vietnam Veterans Medal ribbon-Second Class

Second class *

Police Merit Medal The police are a Law enforcement organization, constituted body of Law enforcement officer, persons empowered by a State (polity), state, with the aim to law enforcement, enforce the law, to ensure the safety, health and possessions of citize ...

Vietnam Police Merit Medal ribbon-First Class

First class : Vietnam Police Merit Medal ribbon-Second Class

Second class : Vietnam Police Merit Medal ribbon-Third Class

Third class : Vietnam Police Merit Medal ribbon-Unit Award

Unit Citation * Police Honor Medal : Vietnam Police Honor Medal ribbon-First Class

First class : Vietnam Police Honor Medal ribbon-Second Class

Second class : Vietnam Police Honor Medal ribbon-Third Class

Third class : Vietnam Police Honor Medal ribbon-Unit Award

Unit Citation * People's Self-Defense Medal : Vietnam People's Self-Defense Medal ribbon-First Class

First class : Vietnam People's Self-Defense Medal ribbon-Second Class

Second class * Youth and Sports Service medal : Vietnam Youth and Sports Service Medal ribbon-First Class

First class : Vietnam Youth and Sports Service Medal ribbon-Second Class

Second class * Vietnam Hamlet Common Defense Medal ribbon

Hamlet Common Defense Medal

Other awards

These awards are not listed in the order of precedence for military or civilian awards: * Vietnam Unity Medal ribbon

Unity Medal * Vietnam Medal of Sacrifice ribbon

Medal of Sacrifice * Presidential Unit Citation (Vietnam)

Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation The Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation ( vi, Huy chương Tổng thống) was a military unit award established by the State of Vietnam (1949–1955) as the State of Vietnam Friendship Ribbon on August 15, 1950. The Vietnam Presidential Unit Cit ...

Foreign recipients

Many of the South Vietnamese military awards and decorations were awarded to members of foreign military forces fighting with and advising the South Vietnamese military. Some civilian awards were also presented, but their acceptance and wear was limited by the recipients' governments.

References

{{Decorations by country *