(if anyone is interested to improve the English translation, or has an official translation, please let me know at rdavemail-medals@yahoo.com)

O-03 INDEPENDENCE ORDER
  Huân Chương Độc Lập

The 6 June 1947 decree established the award :

  III- "INDEPENDENCE" ORDER
  Article 10
  The "Independence" Order has 3 grades:
  - First class
  - Second class
  - Third class.
  Article 11
  The "Independence" Order is given to people with special merit in national salvation or national construction.

The 26 November 2003 revised regulations specified the award criteria as :

  Article 36.-
  1. The first-class "Independence Order" shall be conferred or posthumously conferred on individuals who have recorded exceptionally outstanding achievements in one of the political, economic, social, literature, art, scientific, technological, defense, security, diplomatic or other domains.
  2. The first-class "Independence Order" shall be conferred on collectives which satisfy the following criteria:
    a/ Having recorded outstanding achievements for five or more consecutive years before the time of nomination; having maintained internal unity, with clean and strong Party and mass organizations;
    b/ Having a process of building and development of 30 years or more; if having been conferred the second-class "Independence Order," they must have a process of building and development of 25 years or more.

  Article 37.-
  1. The second-class "Independence Order" shall be conferred or posthumously conferred on individuals who have recorded many outstanding achievements in one of the political, economic, social, literature, art, scientific, technological, defense, security, diplomatic or other domains.
  2. The second-class "Independence Order" shall be conferred on collectives which satisfy the following criteria:
    a/ Having recorded outstanding achievements for five or more consecutive years before the time of nomination; having maintained internal unity, with clean and strong Party and mass organizations;
    b/ Having a process of building and development of 25 years or more; if having been conferred the third-class "Independence Order," they must have a process of building and development of 20 years or more.

  Article 38.-
  1. The third-class "Independence Order" shall be conferred or posthumously conferred on individuals who have recorded outstanding achievements in one of the political, economic, social, literature, art, scientific, technological, defense, security, diplomatic or other domains.
  2. The third-class "Independence Order" shall be conferred on collectives which satisfy the following criteria:
    a/ Having recorded outstanding achievements for five or more consecutive years before the time of nomination; having maintained internal unity, with clean and strong Party and mass organizations;
    b/ Having a process of building and development of 20 years or more; if having been conferred the first-class "Labor Order," they must have a process of building and development of 15 years or more.

The 30 September 2005 implementation guidelines provide more detail on award criteria :

  Article 22. First-class Independence Order
  1. First-class Independence Order for giving or giving away to individuals with exceptionally outstanding achievements, meeting one of the following criteria:
    a) Persons who participate in revolutionary activities before 1945, continue to operate and have outstanding achievements, contributing to the revolutionary cause of the Party and the nation, and do not commit major blemishes, taking one of responsibilities: Deputy Head of Party Central Committee, Secretary of Provincial Party Committee, City Party Committee, Vice Minister or equivalent position, Lieutenant General of the People's Armed Forces;
    b) Persons engaged in continuous activities in the two wars against France and the US (from 1945 to April 30, 1975), with exceptionally outstanding achievements in the cause of national construction and defense, no. violating major shortcomings, undertaking one of the responsibilities: Head of the Party Central Committee, Minister and equivalent positions; Commissioner area, Secretary of the provincial Party Committee, member of the Central Committee, Standing Committee of the National Assembly, Heads of central political and social organizations, 2 consecutive terms, the General of the People's Armed Forces;
    c) Persons participating in continuous activities from the war against the US (from 1954 to April 30, 1975) and the period of national construction and defense (from April 30, 1975 to present), there are many Particularly outstanding achievements, no major shortcomings, have taken one of the responsibilities:

Member of the Politburo, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Vice President, Deputy Chairman of the National Assembly, Deputy Prime Minister, Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, 1 term continuously, General people's armed forces.

Heads of Party Committees at the central level, Ministers and equivalent posts, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, the Central Committee's Standing Committee, Standing Committee of the National Assembly, Heads of central political and social organizations, three terms, Senior General of the People's Armed Forces for 10 years or more.
    d) Persons with outstanding achievements, works and works have the effect of promoting the development in one of the following fields: economy, society, literature, art, science and technology, defense. security, diplomacy ...   recognized and honored by the state;
    e) Foreigners, with exceptionally outstanding achievements in the Vietnamese State, are recognized and proposed by the ministries, branches and mass organizations, the provinces and centrally-run cities.
  2. First-class Independence Order to give collectives to meet the following criteria:
    a) Has been awarded Second-class Independence Order;
    b) Having a process of building and developing for 25 years or more (in case the second-class Independence Order has not yet been awarded, there must be a process of construction and development of 30 years or more);
    c) Having achieved outstanding achievements continuously for 5 years or more before being proposed, during that time, it has been awarded twice by the Government Emulation Flag or Merit from the Prime Minister, internal unity and a clean and strong Party and mass organization.
  3. Foreign organizations with outstanding achievements in the Vietnamese State, recognized and proposed by the ministries, departments, branches and mass organizations and the provinces and centrally-run cities.
  Article 23. Second-class Independence Order
  1. Second-class Independence Order to give or give away to individuals with many outstanding achievements, meeting one of the following criteria:
    a) Persons engaged in continuous activities in the two wars against the French and the Americans (from 1945 to April 30, 1975), having many outstanding achievements in the cause of national construction and defense, without violations. Major shortcomings, have taken one of the responsibilities:

Heads of Party Committees at the central level, ministers and equivalent positions, Secretary of the provincial Party Committee, City Party Committee under the Central Government, Standing Committee of the National Assembly, Heads of central political and social organizations, and 1 term.

Deputy Heads of the Central Party Committees, Vice Ministers and equivalent posts, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and City Central Committee; Chairmen of People's Councils, People's Committees of provinces and cities directly under the Central Government, Vice Chairmen of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and Deputy Heads of central and socio-political unions are continually 2 terms
    b) People who participate in activities continuously from the anti-American period (from 1954 to April 30, 1975) and the period of national construction and defense (from April 30, 1975 to present), there are many excellent achievements, no major shortcomings, has taken one of the responsibilities:

Heads of Party committees at the central level, ministers and equivalent positions, Secretary of the provincial Party Committee, City Party Committee under the Central Government, Standing Committee of the National Assembly, Heads of central political and social organizations, two terms, Senior General of the People's Armed Forces for 5 years or more.

Deputy Heads of the Party Central Committee, Vice Ministers and equivalent positions, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of the Central Committee, the Chairman of the People's Council and People's Committee of provinces and cities directly under the Central Government , Deputy Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, Deputy Heads of central political and social organizations, 3 terms.
    c) Persons with outstanding achievements, works and works have the effect of promoting the development in one of the following fields: economy, society, literature, art, science and technology, defense. security and diplomacy ... recognized and proposed by competent authorities; 
    d) Foreigners with outstanding achievements in the Vietnamese State shall be recognized and proposed by the ministries, departments, branches and mass organizations, the provinces and centrally-run cities.
  2. Second-class Independence Order to give to the team meets the following criteria:
    a) Was awarded Third-class Independence Order;
    b) Having a process of building and developing for 20 years or more (in case the third-class Independence Medal has not yet been awarded, there must be a process of construction and development of 25 years or more);
    c) Achieving excellent performance continuously for 5 years or more before the time of proposal, during that time, it was awarded the Government's Emulation Flag or Certificate of Merit from the Prime Minister, Party organizations and mass organizations. clean and strong.
  3. Foreign organizations have made outstanding achievements for the Vietnamese State, recognized and proposed by the ministries, departments, branches and mass organizations and the provinces and centrally-run cities.
  Article 24. Third-class Independence Order
  1. Third-class Independence Order for giving or giving away to individuals with outstanding achievements, meeting one of the following criteria:
    a) Persons recognized as pre-revolutionary officers, who have excellent achievements, and do not commit major shortcomings, have kept one of the following responsibilities: Director, Director at the Central, Member of the Party, Member of the Party, The head of the provincial level (and the equivalent position) or the person who has been engaged in continuous activities in the Southern battlefield during the period from the US to 1964 to 1975, has assumed the position of District member or equivalent position before the 30th. April 1975;
    b) Those who participated in the two wars against the French and the Americans (from 1945 to April 30, 1975), had outstanding achievements in the cause of national construction and defense, and did not commit great defects. one of the responsibilities: Deputy Head of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Minister and equivalent positions, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, the Committee, Chairman of the People's Council, People's Committee of provinces and cities under The term of the Central Committee and Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and deputy heads of the central socio-political organizations are 1 term;
    c) Participants from the anti-American period (from 1954 to April 30, 1975) and the period of national construction and defense (from April 30, 1975 to present), have made outstanding achievements, no committed a major shortcoming, undertook one of the responsibilities:

Heads of Party committees at the central level, ministers and equivalent positions, Secretary of the provincial Party Committee, the Central Government Committee, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly, Heads of central political and social organizations, 1 term, Senior General of the People's Armed Forces.

Deputy Heads of the Party Central Committee, Vice Ministers and equivalent positions, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, City Committee of the Central Government, Chairman of the People's Council, People's Committee of provinces and cities directly under the Central Government, Deputy Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, Deputy Head of the Central Socio-political organizations, two terms.
    d) People with outstanding achievements, works, works have the effect of promoting development in one of the fields: economy, society, literature, art, science and technology, defense, security and diplomacy ... recognized and proposed by competent authorities; 
    e) Foreigners with outstanding achievements in the Vietnamese State, recognized and proposed by the ministries, departments, branches, central mass organizations, provinces and cities directly under the Central Government.
  2. Third-class Independence Order to give collectives to meet the following criteria:
    a) Was awarded the First-class Labor Order;
    b) Having a process of construction and development of 15 years or more (in cases where the first-class Labor Order has not yet been awarded, there must be a process of construction and development of 20 years or more);
    c) Having achieved excellent performance continuously for 5 years or more before the time of proposal, during that time was awarded the Emulation Flag of the Government or Certificate of Merit from the Prime Minister or 3 times awarded the Emulation Flag of Ministries, branches, central mass organizations and centrally run cities.
  3. Foreign organizations with outstanding achievements in the Vietnamese State, recognized and proposed by the ministries, committees, branches, central mass organizations, provinces and cities directly under the Central Government.

The 19 May 2006 regulations redesigned the order :

  Article 8 . "Independence Order" first, second, and third class
  Stalk Medal of yellow border, in silk Rayon weaves red flag, has four white lines on both sides, starred by rank Medal, reinforced by gold plated copper with Nico alloy thickness of 3 microns; size 28mm x 14mm.
  A stylized A-shaped medal strip, made of silk Rayon woven in red flags, has four white lines on both sides, attached to the rank of Medal, with a 3-micron gold Nico gold-plated copper core; size 28mm x 51mm x 41mm x 51mm.
  Body medal round shape 38mm in diameter, yellow border outside, in blue, in the middle there is a golden star with five wings on a red background, above is the words "Independence Order" (red), on the side below there are two limbs, two stylized red flags and red silk strips with the words "Vietnam" (yellow), the material of red copper plated with Nico alloy is 3 microns thick.

The 15 April 2010 decree updated the 30 September 2005 implementation guidelines :

  Article 22. First-class "Independence Order"
  1. First-class "Independence Order" for giving or giving away to individuals with exceptionally outstanding achievements, meeting one of the following criteria:
    a) Participating in revolutionary activities before 1945, continuously operating, with outstanding achievements in the revolutionary career of the Party and the nation, without any major shortcomings, having taken one of the positions : Deputy Head of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, the Party Committee under the Central Government, the Vice Minister or the position equivalent to or promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General of the People's Armed Forces;
    b) Participating in continuous activities in 2 wars against the French and the US (from 1945 to April 30, 1975), with exceptionally outstanding achievements in the cause of national construction and defense, without violations. major shortcomings, has taken one of the positions: Head of the Party Central Committee, Minister and equivalent positions; Commissioner, Secretary of the provincial Party Committee, City Central Committee, Standing Committee of the National Assembly, Head of the central political and social union, continuously holding two terms (from 8 to 10 years); or to be promoted to the rank of general of the people's armed forces;
   

c) Participating in continuous activities during the resistance war against the US (from 1954 to April 30, 1975) or during the period of national construction and defense (from April 30, 1975 to present), has many outstanding achievements, has no great shortcomings, has taken one of the positions:

Member of the Politburo, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Vice President, Vice Chairman of the National Assembly, Deputy Prime Minister, Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee, continuously 1 term (from 3 up to 5 years); or to be promoted to the rank of general of the people's armed forces;

Head of the Party at the central level, Minister and equivalent positions, Secretary of the provincial Party Committee, City Party Committee, Standing Committee of the National Assembly, Head of the central political-social body, 3 terms (from 13 to 15 years); or being promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General of the people's armed forces for 10 years or more;

    d) Having outstanding achievements, works and works that promote the development in one of the fields: politics, economy, society, literature, art, science, technology, and nation. defense, security, diplomacy and other areas recognized and honored by the State;
    e) Foreigners and overseas Vietnamese with exceptionally outstanding achievements in the Vietnamese State recognized and proposed by the ministries, branches, central organizations, provinces and centrally-run cities.
  2. First-class "Independence Order" to give collectives meets the following criteria:
    a) Has been awarded the second-class "Independence Order" for 5 years or more;
    b) Having a process of construction and development of 25 years or more;
    c) Achieving excellent performance continuously for 5 years or more before the proposal time, during that time, it was awarded "Emulation Flag of the Government" or "Certificate of Merit from the Prime Minister" (or 1). was awarded the "Emulation Flag of the Government" and 3 times was awarded "Emulation Flag of the Ministry, Industry, Province, Central Union"), internal solidarity, Party organization, clean organization, strong.
  3. Foreign organizations with outstanding achievements in the Vietnamese State, recognized and proposed by the ministries, departments, branches and central mass organizations, the provinces and centrally-run cities, shall be considered and awarded "Huan First-class Independence chapter.
  Article 23. Second-class "Independence Order"
  1. Second-class "Independence Order" for giving or giving away to individuals with many outstanding achievements, meeting one of the following criteria:
    a) Being recognized as a pre-revolutionary officer, having many outstanding achievements in the cause of national construction and defense, not having great shortcomings, he has taken one of the positions: Deputy Head of the Party in Central, Deputy Minister and equivalent positions, Deputy Secretary of Party Committee, City Party Committee directly under the Central Government, Chairman of People's Council, People's Committee of provinces and cities under central authority, Vice Chairman of Central Committee the Vietnam Fatherland Front's nest, the deputy head of the central socio-political organization for a term (from 3 to 5 years);
   

b) Participating in continuous activities in 2 wars against the French and the Americans (from 1945 to April 30, 1975), having many outstanding achievements in the cause of national construction and defense, without making mistakes big point, has taken one of the positions:

The head of the Party at the central level, the Minister and equivalent positions, Secretary of the provincial Party Committee, the Party Committee under the Central Government, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly, Head of the central political and social body, 1 term (from 3 to 5 years);

Deputy Head of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Minister and equivalent positions, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, City Party Committee directly under the Central Government, Chairman of the People's Council, People's Committee of provinces and cities directly under the Central Government, Deputy Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, Deputy Head of the central socio-political body, continuously for 2 terms (from 8 to 10 years);

   

c) Participating in continuous activities during the anti-American period (from 1954 to April 30, 1975) or during the period of national construction and defense (from April 30, 1975 to present), there were many excellent achievement, no major shortcomings, has taken one of the positions:

The head of the Party at the central level, the Minister and equivalent positions, Secretary of the provincial Party Committee, the Party Committee under the Central Government, the Standing Committee of the National Assembly, Head of the central political and social body, two terms (from 8 to 10 years); or to be promoted to the rank of Lieutenant General of the people's armed forces for 5 years or more;

Deputy Head of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Minister and equivalent positions, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, City Party Committee directly under the Central Government, Chairman of the People's Council, People's Committee of provinces and cities directly under the Central Government, Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, Deputy Head of the Central Social-Political Union, 3 terms (from 13 to 15 years);

    d) Having achievements, having outstanding works and works that promote the development in one of the fields: politics, economy, society, literature, art, science and technology, national defense, security, diplomacy and other areas, recognized and proposed by competent authorities;
    e) Foreigners and overseas Vietnamese with outstanding achievements in the Vietnamese State are recognized and proposed by the ministries, departments, central agencies, mass organizations, provinces and centrally-run cities.
  2. Second-class "Independence Order" to give to the collective meets the following criteria:
    a) Was awarded the "Independence Order" for the third rank of 5 years or more;
    b) Having a process of construction and development of 20 years or more;
    c) Having achieved excellent performance continuously for 5 years or more before the proposal time, during that time, 2 times of the "Emulation Flag of the Government" or "Certificate of Merit of the Prime Minister" (or 1 time was awarded "Emulation Flag of the Government" and 2 times was awarded "Emulation Flag of Ministry, branch, province, central mass organization"), a clean and strong Party and mass organization.
  3. Foreign organizations with outstanding achievements in the Vietnamese State, recognized and proposed by the ministries, departments, branches and central mass organizations, the provinces and centrally-run cities, shall be considered and awarded "Huan Second-class Independence chapter.
  Article 24. Third-class Independence Order
  1. Third-class "Medal" for giving or giving away to individuals with outstanding achievements, meeting one of the following criteria:
    a) Being recognized as a pre-revolutionary officer, having outstanding achievements, failing to make great shortcomings, having held one of the following positions: Director, Director of the Central Committee, Member of the Party, Member of the Commissioner, Chief departments, provincial departments (and equivalent positions) or people who participate in continuous operation in the Southern battlefields during the period of US resistance from 1964 to 1975, have assumed the position of District member or equivalent position before the 30th. April 1975;
    b) Joining 2 resistance wars against the French and the Americans (from 1945 to April 30, 1975), having outstanding achievements in the cause of national construction and defense, not having great shortcomings and undertook one of the positions: Deputy Head of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Minister and equivalent positions, Deputy Secretary of Party Committee, City Party Committee, Chairman of People's Council, People's Committee of provinces and cities under central authority the deputy chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee and the deputy head of the central socio-political organization for a term (from 3 to 5 years);
   

c) Participating in the anti-US period (from 1954 to April 30, 1975) or during the period of national construction and defense (from April 30, 1975 to present), with outstanding achievements, no committed major shortcomings, undertook one of the positions:

Head of the Party at the central level, Minister and position equivalent, Secretary of the provincial Party Committee, City Party Committee, Standing Committee of the National Assembly, Head of the central political-social body, 1 term (from 3 to 5 years); or to be promoted to the rank of general of the people's armed forces;

Deputy Head of the Party Central Committee, Vice Minister and equivalent positions, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee, City Party Committee directly under the Central Government, Chairman of the People's Council, People's Committee of provinces and cities under the central government, Deputy Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, Deputy Head of the Central Socio-political organization, two terms (from 8 to 10 years);

    d) People with outstanding achievements, works, works have the effect of promoting development in one of the fields: politics, economy, society, literature, art, science and technology. , defense, security, diplomatic or other areas recognized and proposed by competent authorities;
    e) Foreigners and overseas Vietnamese with outstanding achievements in the State of Vietnam, recognized and proposed by the ministries, departments, branches, central organizations, provinces and cities directly under the Central Government.
  2. Third-class "Independence Order" to give collectives to meet the following criteria:
    a) Awarded "First-class Labor Order" for 5 years or more;
    b) Having a process of construction and development for 15 years or more;
    c) Achieving excellent performance continuously for 5 years or more before the time of proposal, during which time the "Emulation Flag of the Government" or "Prime Minister's Certificate of Merit" is awarded or 3 times awarded '' Emulation flag of ministries, branches, provinces and central mass organizations ''.
  3. Foreign organizations with outstanding achievements in the State of Vietnam, recognized, proposed and proposed by the ministries, departments, central branches and mass organizations, and awarded with "Medals Independent "third-class.

The 16 November 2013 decree amended the 26 November 2003 regulations :

  12. To amend and supplement Article 36 as follows:
  “Article 36
1. The first-class “Independence Order” shall be awarded or posthumously awarded to individuals having worked in agencies, organizations or mass organizations for a long time and recorded a particularly outstanding achievement in politics, economics, social affairs, literature, arts, science, technology, defense, security or foreign affairs or another field which has an influence over and is praised in the whole country.
  2. The first-class “Independence Order” shall be awarded to collectives which have been awarded the second-class “Independence Order”, excellently accomplished their tasks in the subsequent 10 years, and successfully built internal solidarity with clean and strong Party and mass organizations.”
  13. To amend and supplement Article 37 as follows:
  “Article 37
1. The second-class “Independence Order” shall be awarded or posthumously awarded to individuals having worked in agencies, organizations or mass organizations for a long time and recorded many outstanding achievements in politics, economics, social affairs, literature, arts, science, technology, defense, security 01' foreign affairs or another field, which have an influence over and are praised in the whole country.
  2. The second-class “Independence Order” shall be awarded to collectives which have been awarded the third-class “Independence Order”, excellently accomplished their tasks in the subsequent 10 years, and successfully built internal solidarity with strong Party organizations and mass organizations.”
  14. To amend and supplement Article 38 as follows:
  “Article 38
1. The third-class “Independence Order” shall be awarded or posthumously awarded to individuals having worked in agencies, organizations or mass organizations for a long time and recorded an outstanding achievement in politics, economics, social affairs, literature, arts, science, technology, defense, security or foreign affairs or another field, which has an influence over and is praised in the whole country.
  2. The second-class “Independence Order” shall be awarded to collectives that satisfy the following criteria:
a/ Having been awarded the first-class “Labor Order”, excellently accomplished their assigned tasks in the subsequent 10 years, and successfully built internal solidarity, with strong Party organizations and mass organizations;
b/ Possessing a formation and development process of 30 years or more.”
3/C DESIGN OF 2014
  one class - redesigned 10 September 2014 and 20 July 2018; guildelines 31 July 2017

(regulations pending)