Gold Star Order () is the highest decoration in Vietnam awards and decorations awarded by the Government of Vietnam for a military or civil "personnel who completed exceptional service or organization established excellent achievement for the revolutionary cause of the Party and Nation." The order was established on June 6, 1947, following the decree No. 58/SL by the Government of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, its design was modified by the Law of Emulation and Reward promulgated on November 26, 2003.
Appearance According to the 1947 decree, the medal of Gold Star Order consisted of two parts, a five-pointed star in gilt-bronze attached to a red neckband with yellow edge. The 2003 Law proposed a new model of the medal which are composed of three parts, the five-pointed star, the ribbon and the bar symbolizing the Flag of Vietnam.
Criteria The Gold Star Order is bestowed on the person who has exceptional contribution for the Party and the Nation, for example ones who had participated in the revolutionary movement before 1935 and had occupied the positions of leaders of the Party, the Government or commander in chief of the Vietnam People's Army. If the person began to dedicate for the revolutionary cause and the country after 1945, to be eligible for the Order, that person has to undertake one of the positions of General Secretary of the Party, President of Vietnam, Prime Minister of Vietnam, President of the National Assembly or General of the armed forces before April 30, 1975. The person who brought significant change to the country or had works with deep impact for the society, security and economy of Vietnam is also available for the Gold Star Order. Heads of foreign states who actively contributed to Vietnam are sometimes recognized by the Government of Vietnam with the Gold Star Order. Additionally, the Gold Star Order can be awarded collectively for an organization, civil or military unit, who did excellent achievements for the Party and the Nation.
Notable recipients
Individual
Recipient Birth-death Position Year awarded Tôn Đức Thắng1888–1980President of Vietnam1958Võ Nguyên Giáp1911–2013General, Commander-in-chief of the Vietnam People's Army, Minister of Defence of Vietnam1992Lê Duẩn1907–1986General Secretary of the Communist Party of VietnamTrường Chinh1907–1988President of Vietnam, General Secretary of the PartyPhạm Văn Đồng1906–2000Prime Minister of Vietnam1990Phạm Hùng1912–1988Prime Minister of VietnamNguyễn Văn Linh1915–1998General Secretary of the PartyLê Đức Thọ1911–1990Head of the Central Organizing DepartmentVõ Chí Công1912–2011President of Vietnam1992Võ Văn Kiệt1922–2008Prime Minister of Vietnam1997Lê Quang Đạo1921–1999President of the National Assembly of Vietnam2002 (posthumously)Văn Tiến Dũng1917–2002General, Minister of Defence of VietnamLê Đức Anh1920–2019President of Vietnam, Minister of Defence of VietnamNguyễn Hữu Thọ1910–1996President of the National Assembly, Acting President of Vietnam1993Đỗ Mười1917–2018General Secretary of the Party, Prime Minister of VietnamHuỳnh Tấn Phát1913–1989Chairman of Government of the Republic of South Vietnam2005 (posthumously)Nguyễn Chí Thanh1914–1967General, Director of the Department of Politics of the Vietnam People's ArmyposthumouslyLê Trọng Tấn1914–1986General, Chief of the General Staff2007 (posthumously)Hoàng Văn Thái1915–1986General, Chief of the General Staff2007 (posthumously)Trần Nam Trung1912–2009Colonel General, Minister of Defense of Republic of South Vietnam (1969–1975)2007Trần Quý Hai1913–1985Lieutenant General, Deputy Chief of the General Staff2008 (posthumously)Jambyn Batmönkh1926–1997President of MongoliaKaysone Phomvihane1920–1992President of LaosKhamtai Siphandone1924–2025President of LaosFidel Castro1926–2016President of Cuba1982Kim Il Sung1912–1994President of North Korea
Collective Recipient Year awarded The City of Hanoi 2003 and 2004 (two times) People's Army of Vietnam five times People's Police of Vietnam 1980, 1985, 2000 (three times) Hanoi Medical University Vietnam National University, Hanoi 2006 Vietnam News Agency
See also Vietnam awards and decorations The list of individuals and collectives awarded Gold Star Order (Vietnam)
References