# Orders, decorations, and medals of South Vietnam

The system of Orders, decorations, and medals of South Vietnam came into being with the establishment of the National Order of Vietnam in 1950. Established by Bảo Đại, the head of state of the State of Vietnam, 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. 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

* National Order of Vietnam
    Grand Cross
    Grand Officer
    Commander
    Officer
    Knight

## Military awards and decorations

Military awards are worn in the following order:
* Military Merit Medal
* Distinguished Service Order
    Army First Class
    Army Second Class
    Air Force First Class
    Air Force Second Class
    Navy First Class
    Navy Second Class
* Meritorious Service Medal
    Army Meritorious Service Medal
    Air Force Meritorious Service Medal
    Navy Meritorious Service Medal
* Special Service Medal
* Gallantry Cross
    Gallantry Cross with Palm (cited at the Armed Forces level)
    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)
    Gallantry Cross Unit Award
* Air Gallantry Cross
    Gold Wing Ribbon
    Silver Wing Ribbon
    Bronze Wing Ribbon
* Navy Gallantry Cross
    Gold Anchor Ribbon
    Silver Anchor Ribbon
    Bronze Anchor Ribbon
* Hazardous Service Medal
* Life Saving Medal
* Loyalty Medal
* Wound Medal
* Armed Forces Honor Medal
    First class
    Second class
* Leadership Medal
    Armed Forces level
    Corps level
    Division level
    Brigade level
    Regiment level
    Battalion level
    Company level
* Staff Service Medal
    First class
    Second class
* Technical Service Medal
    First class
    Second class
* Training Service Medal
    First class
    Second class
* Civil Actions Medal
    First class
    Second class
    Unit Citation
* Good Conduct Medal
    First class
    Second class
    Third class
    Fourth class
    Fifth class
* Vietnam Campaign Medal
* Military Service Medal
    First class
    Second class
    Third class
    Fourth class
    Fifth class
* Air Service Medal
    First class
    Second class
    Third class
    Honor class
* Navy Service Medal
    First class
    Second class
    Third class
    Honor class
* Medal for Campaigns Outside the Frontier
* Air Force Northern Expeditionary Medal

## Civilian awards and decorations

Civilian awards are worn in the following order:
* Kim Khanh Decoration
    Exceptional class
    First class
    Second class
    Third class
* Chuong My Medal
    First class
    Second class
* Administrative Service Medal
    First class
    Second class
* Dedicated Service Medal
    First class
    Second class
* Justice Medal
    First class
    Second class
* Cultural and Educational Service Medal
    First class
    Second class
* Public Health Service Medal
    First class
    Second class
* Social Service Medal
    First class
    Second class
* Economic Service Medal
    First class
    Second class
* Finance Service Medal
    First class
    Second class
* Psychological Warfare Medal
    First class
    Second class
* Agricultural Service Medal
    First class
    Second class
* Public Works, Communication and Transportation Service Medal
    First class
    Second class
* Labor Medal
    First class
    Second class
    Third class
* Rural Revolutionary Development Medal
* Ethnic Development Medal
    First class
    Second class
* Veterans Medal
    First class
    Second class
* Police Merit Medal
    First class
    Second class
    Third class
    Unit Citation
* Police Honor Medal
    First class
    Second class
    Third class
    Unit Citation
* People's Self-Defense Medal
    First class
    Second class
* Youth and Sports Service Medal
    First class
    Second class
* Hamlet Common Defense Medal

## Other awards

These awards are not listed in the order of precedence for military or civilian awards:
* Unity Medal
* Medal of Sacrifice
* Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation

## 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.