National Order of Vietnam

The National Order of Vietnam (Vietnamese: 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.

National Order of Vietnam
Knight's badge of the National Order of Vietnam
Awarded by  South Vietnam
and State of Vietnam
TypeState order of chivalry
Established15 August 1950
Ribbon  Yellow and   Red
MottoTổ-Quốc Tri-Ân ("The Gratitude of the Fatherland")
EligibilityMilitary, civilian
StatusNo longer awarded
FounderEmperor Bảo Đại
Grades
Grand Cross
Grand Officer
Commander
Officer
Knight/Dame
Precedence
Next (higher)None (Highest)
Next (lower)Military Merit Medal
RelatedFrench Légion d'honneur
French Colonial Order of the Dragon of Annam

Ribbon bar of the order
Fourragere Color of the National Order
Fourragere (Mixed colors of Gallantry Cross, Military Merit Medal, and National Order)

The decoration was created in 1950 and was awarded to any person who performed "grandiose works, remarkable deeds, exhibited bravery, or for those who have honored and served the country by lofty virtues and outstanding knowledge."

The National Order was modeled after the French Légion d'honneur, and as such it was issued in five degrees:[1]

  • Grand Cross - wore the badge of the Order on a sash on the right shoulder, plus the star of the Order on the right stomach OR just the star of the Order on the left stomach;
  • Grand Officer - wore the star of the Order on the right stomach;
  • Commander - wore the badge on a necklet;
  • Officer - wore the badge on a ribbon with rosette on the left chest;
  • Knight - wore the badge on a ribbon on the left chest.

Both the badge and the star had the same design, as shown in the top right of this page. The ribbon was red with yellow borders. It was, in fact, the ribbon of the former Order of the Dragon of Annam when awarded by the Emperor of Annam himself (when awarded by the French Government the ribbon was green with orange borders).

During the Vietnam War, the National Order of Vietnam was bestowed on several members of the United States military, most of whom were senior military and political advisors to the South Vietnamese government. The decoration could also be awarded posthumously.

Since the National Order of Vietnam was both a civil and a military decoration, it was displayed above all other awards when worn on a military uniform. A purely military equivalent of the decoration was the Vietnam Military Merit Medal, awarded only to members of the military.

The five classes wearing their respective insignia: 1: Đệ Ngũ Đẳng; 2: Đệ Tứ Đẳng; 3: Đệ Tam Đẳng; 4: Đệ Nhì Đẳng; 5: Đệ Nhất Đẳng.[1]
Knight
(Badge with ribbon)		 Officer
(Badge with ribbon and rosette)		 Commander
(Badge with necklet)		 Grand Officer
(Star)		 Grand Cross
(Badge with sash and star)
Ribbon Bar

Notable recipients

See also

References
  1. "Huy Chương Ân Thưởng Trong Quân-Lực Viêt-Nam Cộng-Hòa (Medals and Decorations of the Republic of Vietnam Armed Forces)". Government of the Republic of Vietnam. 1967. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
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