03-26-2008, 01:17 PM (This post was last modified: 04-03-2008, 08:37 PM by Taz.)
The Gold Star Order, established on June 6th, 1947 remains the highest honour that the SRV can present to units, organizations and individuals who have made great contributions to the country. Also awarded to foreigners for merit to the SRV. Regulations state that there is to be a large ceremony for the presenting of these awards.
Until 1974 only two had been awarded, to Ho Chi Minh and Vice President Ton Duc Thang. Ho Chi Minh refused to accept it until final victory was achieved. There have only been 16 awardings of this rare Order.
The Order is a raised, five-pointed, solid gold star, measuring approximately 1 1/2" from point to point. The back is decorated with a raised wreath of two laurel branches. The medal is neither numbered nor named as might be typical in other countries of the world for such a high honour. The pin device is a simple bent wire.
These Orders have been faked, most without the reverse laurel decorations.
Known and unconfirmed recipients:
Ho Chi Minh
Ton Duc Thang (August, 1958)
Vo Nguyen Giap
Vietnam People’s Army 1974, 1984, 1994 and 2004
Leonid Brezhnev (June, 1980)
Aleksei Kosugin (June, 1980)
Waleri Fjodorowitsch Bykowski (Unconfirmed)
Tran BA Thanh (Unconfirmed)
Pic CO Ed Emering
Everybody's equal, But some more than others!
"Those who come to us with the sword - will be killed by the sword" - Alexander Nevski
10-26-2011, 07:03 PM (This post was last modified: 10-26-2011, 07:06 PM by GabrielMk3.)
Hello, comrades!
I just wanted to report to you that I've seen several Gold Star Orders on the market, that are fakes...
How do I know? Well, I've seen 5 pieces now, and I know that the order has just been awarded under 100 times. Also those seen on the market is of too low quality, and goes for under 50 USD. This is way too low for such a special order.
All of them were offered as original, and some were from sellers in Vietnam and USA.
I do of course have some images for you-
Also, see the two first ones, they seem to be made by the same person.
The Vietnamese Government has now let a new design of the Gold Star Order be released. It's some years ago, but much of the people outside Vietnam doesn't seem to have noticed. Vietnam has also gotten a lot more "modern" versions of other east bloc awards like "Hero of Labour", "Mother Heroine" and such.
This is the information the Government provides with one of their official web pages, this is the best translation I could get my hands on:
Gold Star Medal
FORM PROVISIONS Gold Star Order
Decree No. 50/2006/ND-CP May 19, 2006 Government shall prescribe the form of Medal Medal, Badge, Medal Of, By medals, emulation, Merit, Certificate of Merit:
Article 6.
Medal stem yellow outline, the two-color woven silk Rayon 1 / 2 red flags left, half right yellow, pure gold plated copper alloy Nico 3 micron thick dimensions of 28mm x 14mm .
A strip-shaped medal stylized Rayon silk weaving two colors: 1 / 2 red flags left, half right yellow; reinforced gold-plated copper alloy Nico 3 micron thick; 28mm x 51mm size x 41mm x 51mm.
My gold medal five-pointed star, embossed, colored yellow, the middle is a red five-pointed gold stars around the words "Gold Star Order," "Vietnam" (yellow) in diameter in the top stars by 52mm, material gold plated copper alloy Nico, 3 micron thick.
FORM PROVISIONS BY Gold Star Order
Article 28 of Decree No. 50/2006/ND-CP May 19, 2006 of the Government Order form, medal, badge, medal Bang, Bang medals, emulation, Merit, Certificate of Merit : Appearance: Around decorated, the center is the national emblem on the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
Content: The first line, second line The name "Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Independence - Freedom - Happiness"; line Tuesday: "The Chairman" (red), fourth line: "The Socialist Republic of Vietnam" (black), fifth line: "Give" (black) line Friday: reward mode (red); the next line write the name and address achievements of units and individuals are rewarded. Below: Left in two words: No decision date ... month ... year ... ....; The gold window. Right in two lines: Hanoi, .... months .... year ... presidents and 40mm space for signature and seal. By printing on white paper 150 gram quantity / m 2 ; size 455mm long, 355mm wide, decorated with lines 365mm long, 270mm wide.
It's nice to see this formerly overtly Soviet award and those of many other formerly Soviet aligned nations find more of its own national identity. Strange to see how the "Danish" style suspension is still prevailing in so many places which historically have no ties with Danmark. I wonder how long it will be before the 5 sided suspensions will be once again phased out for something more historically fitting in these nations. Georgia is one example of a rejection of the Soviet 1943 Russian revival influence on the award system.
An idea for something historically fitting could be to make an award around something from the Nguyen dynasty, with a east bloc inspired design for example? Like Order of Suvorov just with some historically correct names from Vietnam.
The Order of Ho Chi Minh is just too weak to really symbolize the country's creator.
Wasn't Vietnam Chinese ground, before the Chinese gave up the Vietnam region to the French?
01-08-2012, 07:07 PM (This post was last modified: 01-08-2012, 07:13 PM by medals73.)
GabrielMk3 Wrote:An idea for something historically fitting could be to make an award around something from the Nguyen dynasty, with a east bloc inspired design for example? Like Order of Suvorov just with some historically correct names from Vietnam.
The Order of Ho Chi Minh is just too weak to really symbolize the country's creator.
Wasn't Vietnam Chinese ground, before the Chinese gave up the Vietnam region to the French?
About all you'd get would be the Trưng sisters (Trưng Trắc and Trưng Nhị) of the 1st century CE.
Certainly the quality of the orders could be improved. There needs to be a classy Hồ Chí Minh Order and maybe a military Order of Võ Nguyên Giáp? (But I guess Giáp would need to die first?)
