Vietnam Medals - 0-13 Victory Order

The Victory Order and Decoration were established on 2 February 1958 to award officials and soldiers of the Vietnam People's Army who made meritorious contributions to the construction of the army and fighting during the resistance period from 1946 to 1954. (for the Decoration see here)

There are three classes of the order and two classes of the decoration. It was awarded to cadres and soldiers who participated in the main army and local army during the resistance war, and have not committed serious errors during their service or elsewhere. The class is awarded based on the recipents rank and years of service. Servicemen who are disabled or injured in combat or are unable to continue in the army for a full period of time are exempt from the time requirements. It may be awarded posthumously.

13/A	INITIAL DESIGN
	three classes - distinguished by ribbon stripes - established 2 February 1958;
	For:	cadres and PAVN personnel who built and fought in the forces from 1946 to 1954
	Design:	five-pointed rounded star, gold, 42mm across, with pentagonal suspension ribbon;
		Obverse:	on a gold star of five points with five rays in a shallow angle between the points, a large central red disk with a shock of rice on either side and, below, a toothed gear (the arms of the DRV) and straight riband inscribed CHIẾN THẮNG (Victory);
		Reverse:	plain
	Ribbon:	25mm - green 2mm edges, red 21mm center, with yellow stripes in center to indicate class; pentagonal;

13/A/1	First Class (hạng nhất) - Ribbon: three 1.5mm yellow stripes 1.5mm apart;
	for cadre level officials at the regimenal level and upwards with 1 or more year service and personnal at the regimental level with 5 or more years service
13/A/2	Second Class (hạng nhì) - Ribbon: two 1.5mm yellow stripes 1.5mm apart;
	for cadre level officials with less than 1 year service, personnal at the regimental level with 1 to 5 years service and personnal at the company level with 5 or more years service
13/A/3	Third Class (hạng ba) - Ribbon: one 3mm yellow stripe; (also seen 4mm yellow stripe)
	for personnal at the regimental or battalion level with less than 1 year service, personnal at the company or platoon level with 1 or more years service, and platoon officiers and soldiers with 5 or more years service

Early examples :

Later examples (aluminum) :

Award Certificates

3rd class Victory Order (1958)
(Has anyone see certificates dated other than 1958?)

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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THE ORDERS AND MEDALS OF THE DEMOCRATIC & SOCIALIST REPUBLICS OF VIETNAM