H-03 HERO OF THE PEOPLE'S ARMED FORCES
  Huy hiệu “Anh hùng Lực lượng vũ trang nhân dân”

The Hero of the Army was established in 1952, changed to the Hero of the People's Armed Forces in 1970, and was maintained with the SRV (merging with the NLF Hero of the Liberation Armed Forces in 1976). It was formalized with all the SRV awards in 2003, which were redesigned in 2006. Another redesign for all SRV awards was done in 2014. (see regulation extracts here)

As of 2006, 3,738 units were awarded all variations (too confirm) of the Hero of the People's Armed Forces; 36 units were awarded this title 2 times, 4 units were commended 3 times. Personally, there were 1,286 soldiers awarded the Hero of the People's Armed Forces: 148 in the resistance against France, 859 in the Resistance against the US, 279 in other wars. Of those, 160 are female and 163 are ethnic minorities

3/A INITIAL DESIGN (1952) - HERO OF THE ARMY
  one class - established 2 May 1952;
  For: units and individuals for outstanding contributions to the revolutionary cause of the people;
  Design: round breast badge, golden bronze, 33mm ? across, with suspension ribbon;
    Obverse: large portrait of Hồ Chí Minh facing left, with two laurel branches below, and inscription above "HỒ CHÍ MINH";
    Reverse: plain ?;
    Suspension: link with small gold wreath, with ring to lower bar of pentagonal frame suspended from a barette à coulisse;
  Ribbon: 25mm ? - red with three yellow stripes 3mm grouped 1mm apart in center, pentagonal;


 

3/B SECOND DESIGN (1970) - HERO OF THE PEOPLE'S ARMED FORCES
  one class - revised 15 January 1970;
  For: units and individuals for outstanding contributions to the revolutionary cause of the people;
  Design: round breast badge, golden bronze, 33mm ? across, with suspension ribbon;
    Obverse: large portrait of Hồ Chí Minh facing left, with two laurel branches below, and inscription above "HỒ CHÍ MINH";
    Reverse: plain ?;
    Suspension: link with small gold wreath, with ring to lower bar of pentagonal frame suspended from a barette à coulisse;
  Ribbon: 25mm ? - red with three yellow stripes 3mm grouped 1mm apart in center, pentagonal;

  Version from SRV book Huân Chương Huy Chương, however not actually seen with star on ribbon bar

Additional variations:

   
  Example with enamel "ribbon bar"

 

5/C DESIGN OF 2006
  three classes - distinguished by ribbon device stars - redesigned 19 May 2006; revised 16 November 2013; guidelines 30 September 2005, 15 April 2010;
  For:  
  Design: round breast badge, gilt, 37mm across, with suspension ribbon;
    Obverse: , all coated on the face in clear laquer;
    Reverse: checkered pattern with manufacturer name "C. TY. CƠ KHÍ 17" and local phone number "04.3884 3323"; (perhaps an early version plain ?)
    Suspension: arrangement at top with eyelet, and ribbon ring to golden pentagonal plate with pin-back;
  Ribbon: 28mm - red with a 3mm dark blue band placed 5mm from each edge; pentagonal;
  Device:: stars indicating award class.

  Example without enamed coating - parhaps earlier type ?

 
Ban Trí Vận-Mặt Trận Saigon-Gia Định
(Saigon-Gia Dinh Transport Corps)		  

 

5/D DESIGN OF 2014
  one class - redesigned 10 September 2014 and 20 July 2018; guildelines 31 July 2017
  For:  
  Design: round breast badge, gilt, 37mm across, with suspension ribbon;
    Obverse: , all coated on the face in clear laquer;
    Reverse: checkered pattern with manufacturer name "C. TY. CƠ KHÍ 17" and local phone number "04.3884 3323";
    Suspension: lotus with center eyelet at top, and ribbon ring to golden pentagonal plate with pin-back;
  Ribbon: 28mm - red with a 3mm light blue band placed 5mm from each edge; pentagonal;
  Device:: stars indicating award class.



 

References (Please let me know others at rdavemail-medals@yahoo.com) :

1 The Orders and Medals of the Communist Governments of Indochina, Revision II, John Sylvester Jr., 1994. (JS94) [Out of Print]
2 Orders and Decorations of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (Nước Cộng Hòa Xã Hội Chủ Nghĩa Việt Nam), Institute of Orders (Viện Huân Chương). (Does anyone know the date of publication ?)
3 Orders, Decorations and Badges of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam, Edward J. Emering, 1997. (EE97) Availalbe at https://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0764301438/
4 Encyclopedia of the Orders, Decorations, Medals and Badges of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Edward John Emering, 2000. (EE00) Available at http://www.themedalhound.com/books/titles.html
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Articles (Please let me know others at rdavemail-medals@yahoo.com) :

1 “Stray Notes on the Orders, Decorations, and Medals of the Democratic/Socialist Republic of Vietnam”, John Sylvester Jr., 2000.
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Websites (Please let me know others at rdavemail-medals@yahoo.com) :

1 Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hero_of_the_People's_Armed_Forces (In Vietnamese)
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