H-09 NLF HERO OF THE LIBERATON ARMED FORCES
  Huy hiệu “Anh hùng Lực lượng vũ trang giải phóng”

The Hero of the Liberation Army was established in 1963, changed to the Hero of the Liberation Armed Forces in 1970 (or 1973) and obsoleted in 1976 when merged into the Hero of the People's Armed Forces. (see regulation extracts here)

This is the NLF equivalent of the Hero of the People's Armed Forces.

9/A INITIAL DESIGN (1963) - HERO OF THE LIBERATION ARMY
  one class - established 23 September 1963; merged with Hero of the Peoples Army in 1976;
  For: units and individuals with the national honorary appellation of Hero of the Liberation Armed Forces;
  Design: gold star, 36mm across, with Hero suspension;
    Obverse: in the center of the gold star, a disk with a NLF flag above and rice sheaf below with at the bottom a small riband inscribed ANH HUNG GIAI PHONG (Hero of Liberation);
    Reverse: plain;
  Ribbon: horizontally divided, red above, light blue below, 20mm
  Device: small gold star;

  Version from SRV book Huân Chương Huy Chương

Additional variations:

with alternate ribbon (not official) crude version - reproduction ? (and with incorrect 2 stars)
w/ later ribbon (27mm) late version (37mm star w/23mm ribbon)

 

2/B SECOND DESIGN (1970 ? OR 1973 ?) - HERO OF THE LIBERATON ARMED FORCES
  Huy hiệu “Anh hùng Lực lượng vũ trang nhân dân giải phóng”
(if anyone has information on this type, please let me know at rdavemail-medals@yahoo.com)
    Obverse: in the center of the gold star, a disk with a NLF flag above and rice sheaf below, inscribed at the top ANH HUNG (Hero) with at the bottom a small riband inscribed LUC LUONG VU TRANG NHAN DAN GIAI PHONE (Liberation Armed Forces);

with alternate ribbon (not official) crude version - reproduction ?

 

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
5 Orders and Decorations of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam: An Update, Edward John Emering, 2008. (EE08) 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) :

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