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
 * VPD National Order of Vietnam - Grand Cross BAR.svg Grand Cross
 * VPD National Order of Vietnam - Grand Officer BAR.svg Grand Officer
 * VPD National Order of Vietnam - Commander BAR.svg Commander
 * VPD National Order of Vietnam - Officer BAR.svg Officer
 * VPD National Order of Vietnam - Knight BAR.svg Knight

Military awards and decorations
Military awards are worn in the following order:
 * Vietnam Military Merit Ribbon.svg Military Merit Medal
 * Distinguished Service Order
 * Vietnam Army Distinguished Service Order Ribbon-First Class.svg Army First Class
 * Vietnam Army Distinguished Service Order Ribbon-Second Class.svg Army Second Class
 * Vietnam Air Force Distinguished Service Order Ribbon-First Class.svg Air Force First Class
 * Vietnam Air Force Distinguished Service Order Ribbon-Second Class.svg Air Force Second Class
 * Vietnam Navy Distinguished Service Order Ribbon-First Class.svg Navy First Class
 * Vietnam Navy Distinguished Service Order Ribbon-Second Class.svg Navy Second Class


 * Meritorious Service Medal
 * Vietnam Army Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg Army Meritorious Service Medal
 * Vietnam Air Force Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg Air Force Meritorious Service Medal
 * Vietnam Navy Meritorious Service Medal ribbon.svg Navy Meritorious Service Medal


 * Vietnam Special Service Medal ribbon.svg Special Service Medal
 * Gallantry Cross
 * Vietnam Gallantry Cross, with palm.svg Gallantry Cross with Palm (cited at the Armed Forces level)
 * 1 golden star.svg Gallantry Cross with Gold Star (cited at the Corps level)
 * Award-star-silver-3d.png Gallantry Cross with Silver Star (cited at the Division level)
 * Bronze-service-star-3d-vector.svg Gallantry Cross with Bronze Star (cited at the Regiment or Brigade level)
 * Vietnam gallantry cross unit award-3d.svg Gallantry Cross Unit Award


 * Air Gallantry Cross
 * Vietnam Air Gallantry Cross Gold Wing ribbon.svg Gold Wing Ribbon
 * Vietnam Air Gallantry Cross Silver Wing ribbon.svg Silver Wing Ribbon
 * Vietnam Air Gallantry Cross Bronze Wing ribbon.svg Bronze Wing Ribbon


 * Navy Gallantry Cross
 * Vietnam Navy Gallantry Cross, Gold Anchor ribbon.svg Gold Anchor Ribbon
 * Vietnam Navy Gallantry Cross, Silver Anchor ribbon.svg Silver Anchor Ribbon
 * Vietnam Navy Gallantry Cross, Bronze Anchor ribbon.svg Bronze Anchor Ribbon


 * Vietnam Hazardous Service Medal ribbon.svg Hazardous Service Medal
 * Vietnam Life Saving Medal ribbon.svg Life Saving Medal
 * Vietnam Loyalty Medal ribbon.svg Loyalty Medal
 * Vietnam Wound Medal ribbon.svg Wound Medal
 * Armed Forces Honor Medal
 * Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal ribbon-First Class.svg First class
 * Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal ribbon-Second Class.svg Second class


 * Leadership Medal
 * Vietnam Leadership Medal-Armed Forces ribbon.svg Armed Forces level
 * Vietnam Leadership Medal-Corps ribbon.svg Corps level
 * Vietnam Leadership Medal-Division ribbon.svg Division level
 * Vietnam Leadership Medal-Brigade ribbon.svg Brigade level
 * Vietnam Leadership Medal-Regiment ribbon.svg Regiment level
 * Vietnam Leadership Medal-Battalion ribbon.svg Battalion level
 * Vietnam Leadership Medal-Company ribbon.svg Company level


 * Staff Service Medal
 * Vietnam Staff Service Medal ribbon-First Class.svg First class
 * Vietnam Staff Service Medal ribbon-Second Class.svg Second class


 * Technical Service Medal
 * Vietnam Technical Service Medal ribbon-First Class.svg First class
 * Vietnam Technical Service Medal ribbon-Second Class.svg Second class


 * Training Service Medal
 * Vietnam Training Service Medal ribbon-First Class.svg First class
 * Vietnam Training Service Medal ribbon-Second Class.svg Second class


 * Civil Actions Medal
 * Vietnam Civil Actions Medal ribbon-First Class.svg First class
 * Vietnam Civil Actions Medal ribbon-Second Class.svg Second class
 * VNCivilActionsRibbon-2.svg Unit Citation


 * Good Conduct Medal
 * Vietnam Good Conduct Medal ribbon-First Class.svg First class
 * Vietnam Good Conduct Medal ribbon-Second Class.svg Second class
 * Vietnam Good Conduct Medal ribbon-Third Class.svg Third class
 * Vietnam Good Conduct Medal ribbon-Fourth Class.svg Fourth class
 * Vietnam Good Conduct Medal ribbon.svg Fifth class


 * Vietnam Campaign Medal ribbon with 60- clasp.svg Vietnam Campaign Medal
 * Military Service Medal
 * Vietnam Military Service Medal ribbon-First Class.svg First class
 * Vietnam Military Service Medal ribbon-Second Class.svg Second class
 * Vietnam Military Service Medal ribbon-Third Class.svg Third class
 * Vietnam Military Service Medal ribbon-Fourth Class.svg Fourth class
 * Vietnam Military Service Medal ribbon.svg Fifth class


 * Air Service Medal
 * Vietnam Air Service Medal ribbon-First Class.svg First class
 * Vietnam Air Service Medal ribbon-Second Class.svg Second class
 * Vietnam Air Service Medal ribbon-Third Class.svg Third class
 * Vietnam Air Service Medal ribbon.svg Honor class


 * Navy Service Medal
 * Vietnam Navy Service Medal ribbon-First Class.svg First class
 * Vietnam Navy Service Medal ribbon-Second Class.svg Second class
 * Vietnam Navy Service Medal ribbon-Third Class.svg Third class
 * Vietnam Navy Service Medal ribbon.svg Honor class


 * Vietnam Medal for Campaigns Outside the Frontier ribbon.svg Medal for Campaigns Outside the Frontier
 * Vietnam Air Force Northern Expeditionary Medal ribbon.svg 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.svg Exceptional class
 * Vietnam Kim Khanh Decoration ribbon-First Class.svg First class
 * Vietnam Kim Khanh Decoration ribbon-Second Class.svg Second class
 * Vietnam Kim Khanh Decoration ribbon-Third Class.svg Third class


 * Chuong My Medal
 * Vietnam Chuong My Medal ribbon-First Class.svg First class
 * Vietnam Chuong My Medal ribbon-Second Class.svg Second class


 * Administrative Service Medal
 * Vietnam Administrative Service Medal ribbon-First Class.svg First class
 * Vietnam Administrative Service Medal ribbon-Second Class.svg Second class


 * Dedicated Service Medal
 * Vietnam Dedicated Service Medal ribbon-First Class.svg First class
 * Vietnam Dedicated Service Medal ribbon-Second Class.svg Second class


 * Justice Medal
 * Vietnam Justice Medal ribbon-First Class.svg First class
 * Vietnam Justice Medal ribbon-Second Class.svg Second class


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


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


 * Social Service Medal
 * Vietnam Social Service Medal ribbon-First Class.svg First class
 * Vietnam Social Service Medal ribbon-Second Class.svg Second class


 * Economic Service Medal
 * Vietnam Economic Service Medal ribbon-First Class.svg First class
 * Vietnam Economic Service Medal ribbon-Second Class.svg Second class


 * Finance Service Medal
 * Vietnam Finance Service Medal ribbon-First Class.svg First class
 * Vietnam Finance Service Medal ribbon-Second Class.svg Second class


 * Psychological Warfare Medal
 * Vietnam Psychological Warfare Medal ribbon-First Class.svg First class
 * Vietnam Psychological Warfare Medal ribbon.svg Second class


 * Agricultural Service Medal
 * Vietnam Agricultural Service Medal ribbon-First Class.svg First class
 * Vietnam Agricultural Service Medal ribbon-Second Class.svg Second class


 * Public Works, Communication and Transportation Service Medal
 * [[File:Vietnam Public Works, Communication and Transportation Service Medal ribbon-First Class.svg|100px]] First class
 * [[File:Vietnam Public Works, Communication and Transportation Service Medal ribbon-Second Class.svg|100px]] Second class


 * Labor Medal
 * Vietnam Labor Medal ribbon-First Class.svg First class
 * Vietnam Labor Medal ribbon-Second--Third Class.svg Second class
 * Vietnam Labor Medal ribbon-Second--Third Class.svg Third class


 * Vietnam Rural Revolutionary Development Medal ribbon.svg Rural Revolutionary Development Medal
 * Ethnic Development Medal
 * Vietnam Ethnic Development Medal ribbon-First Class.svg First class
 * Vietnam Ethnic Development Medal ribbon-Second Class.svg Second class


 * Veterans Medal
 * Vietnam Veterans Medal ribbon-First Class.svg First class
 * Vietnam Veterans Medal ribbon-Second Class.svg Second class


 * Police Merit Medal
 * Vietnam Police Merit Medal ribbon-First Class.svg First class
 * Vietnam Police Merit Medal ribbon-Second Class.svg Second class
 * Vietnam Police Merit Medal ribbon-Third Class.svg Third class
 * Vietnam Police Merit Medal ribbon-Unit Award.svg Unit Citation


 * Police Honor Medal
 * Vietnam Police Honor Medal ribbon-First Class.svg First class
 * Vietnam Police Honor Medal ribbon-Second Class.svg Second class
 * Vietnam Police Honor Medal ribbon-Third Class.svg Third class
 * Vietnam Police Honor Medal ribbon-Unit Award.svg Unit Citation


 * People's Self-Defense Medal
 * Vietnam People's Self-Defense Medal ribbon-First Class.svg First class
 * Vietnam People's Self-Defense Medal ribbon-Second Class.svg Second class


 * Youth and Sports Service Medal
 * Vietnam Youth and Sports Service Medal ribbon-First Class.svg First class
 * Vietnam Youth and Sports Service Medal ribbon-Second Class.svg Second class


 * Vietnam Hamlet Common Defense Medal ribbon.svg 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.svg Unity Medal
 * Vietnam Medal of Sacrifice ribbon.svg Medal of Sacrifice
 * Presidential Unit Citation (Vietnam).svg 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.