Gilt metal and green, red and blue enamel insignia with five pattered gilt arms, green enamel devices between the arms, a green enamel dragon’s tail at the base, on gilt metal and green enamel dragon’s head suspension with laterally-pierced ball for ribbon suspension; the face with a circular central red enamel medallion inscribed ‘Tố QUốC TRi ÂN’ (Gratitude of the Fatherland) within a blue enamel ring decorated with a gilt Greek key motif; the reverse concave, plain gilt; on original ribbon with brooch bar for wear. The Order was founded on 15 August 1950 by Emperor Bao Dai as Head of State of Vietnam and was both a civil and military award to be given to acknowledge ‘grandiose works, remarkable deeds, exhibited bravery, or for those who have honoured and served the country by lofty virtues and outstanding knowledge’. The award was retained by South Vietnam when it became a republic in 1957 and was that state’s highest honour. It was suppressed when Vietnam became a unified state under Communist control in 1975.
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