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 of Vietnam
Grand Knight 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
Navy Gallantry Cross
Hazardous Service Medal
Life Saving Medal
Loyalty Medal
Wound Medal
Armed Forces Honor Medal
1st class
2nd class
Leadership Medal
Staff Service Medal
1st class
2nd class
Technical Service Medal
1st class
2nd class
Training Service Medal
1st class
2nd class
Civil Actions Medal
1st class
2nd class
Unit Citation
Good Conduct Medal
Vietnam Campaign Medal
Medal for Campaigns Outside the Frontier
Military Service Medal
Air Service Medal
Navy Service Medal
Civilian awards and decorations
Civilian awards are worn in the following order:
Kim Khanh Medal
Chuong My Medal
1st Class
2nd Class
Administrative Service Medal
Dedicated Service Medal
Justice Medal
Cultural and Educational Service Medal
Public Health Service Medal
Social Service Medal
Economic Service Medal
Finance Service Medal
Psychological Warfare Medal
Agricultural Service Medal
Public Works, Communication and Transportation Service Medal
Labor Medal
Rural Revolutionary Development Medal
Ethnic Development Medal
Veterans Medal
Police Merit Medal
Police Honor Medal
People's Self-Defense Medal
Youth and Sports Service medal
Hamlet Common Defense Medal
These awards are not listed in the order of precedence for military or civilian awards:
Medal of Unity
Medal of Sacrifice
Vietnam Presidential Unit Citation
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.
