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Vietnam Medal Obverse Vietnam Medal Reverse

The Vietnam Medal

Overview

The Vietnam Medal was instituted in 1968 to recognise New Zealanders who served in the Vietnam War. It was jointly developed by New Zealand and Australia, with a separate Royal Warrant issued for each country. It was also the first operational service medal for Australian or New Zealand personnel to be designed and produced in Australia by the Royal Australian Mint.

Description

The medal was designed by Andor Meszaros, a well known Australian medallist. It is silver in colour and circular in shape. On the obverse is the Effigy of the Sovereign. The reverse features 'Viet Nam' inscribed above a symbolic representation of the ideological war in Vietnam, depicting the figure of a man in the centre of the medal standing between spherical shapes.

The ribbon incorporates the colours traditionally symbolic to the three Armed Forces (red, white and blue) and the national colours of Vietnam (red and yellow).

The Vietnam Medal is issued engraved on the bottom rim. For military personnel, the recipient's service number, rank, initials, surname, and corps / Service are engraved. These details are as at the date of the service which qualified him or her for the medal.

There are no clasps or bars for this medal.

Eligibility

Members of the New Zealand Armed Forces and accredited members of approved New Zealand philanthropic organisations attached to these Forces who, between 29 May 1964 and 27 January 1973 (date of the signing of the Paris Accords):

  • served for twenty-eight days, continuous or aggregated, in ships or craft employed in operations on inland waters or off the coast of Vietnam;
  • served for one day or more on the posted strength of a unit or formation on land in Vietnam;
  • completed one operational sortie over Vietnam or Vietnamese waters by aircrew on the posted strength of a unit allocated for direct support of operations in Vietnam; or
  • served for thirty days, continuous or aggregated, for official visits, inspections or other occurrences of a temporary nature on duty in Vietnam, or in ships or craft engaged in operations off the Vietnamese coast; or
  • had service brought to an end because of death or evacuation owing to wounds or other disability due to service, or were awarded a British Honour, Decoration or a Medal, a Mention-in-Despatches or a Queen's Commendation for gallantry.
  • Eligibility for the Vietnam Medal was extended by New Zealand in 2001 to include aircrew of No. 40 or No. 41 Squadrons who flew one or more operational sorties over South Vietnam or Vietnamese waters in support of operations between 29 May 1964 and 28 January 1973.  Supernumerary crew continue to be ineligible for this medal.  

For full details:

Royal Warrant for the Vietnam Medal(external link)

Queries & requests

  • Wearing this medal

    The Vietnam Medal is worn as a campaign medal in the New Zealand Order of Wear.   It is always worn before the New Zealand General Service Medal 1992 (Warlike) with clasp 'Vietnam'.

    Campaign medals are worn in order of date of participation in the campaign, operation, or peacekeeping mission for which the medal was awarded.  This includes United Nations, NATO mission, and European Union mission medals.  As a result, different individuals may mount their medals in different orders depending on when they served in each theatre. 

    For more information on how to wear and care for honours, medals, and awards:

  • Applying for this medal

    NZDF Personnel Archives and Medals (PAM) issues war, operational and service medals to current and former NZDF members.

    If you or someone you know may be eligible, you can apply through our application page.

    Apply for unclaimed medals

  • Checking if this medal was issued

    Honours, medals, and awards bestowed on an individual for service in the New Zealand Armed Forces are recorded in their individual service record.  NZDF Personnel Archives and Medals holds a collection of about 1.5 million service records relating to 420,000 New Zealand service personnel who served in New Zealand’s Military Forces after the First World War.

    Service records are not currently digitised, but we can locate it and find the information you might be looking for or help you book a time for you to see the records in Trentham by completing the form on the Service Record page. 

    Request a service record

  • Related questions and medals
    I served in Vietnam in 1970 with Victor Company. I have been awarded the Vietnam Medal for that service. Am I also eligible for the New Zealand General Service Medal 1992 (Warlike) with clasp "Vietnam"?

    Yes, a person who served in Vietnam between 1 December 1962 and 27 January 1973 and has been awarded the Vietnam Medal will be eligible for the New Zealand General Service Medal 1992 (Warlike) with clasp "Vietnam". 

    You will also be eligible for the New Zealand Operational Service Medal, if you have not yet applied for this medal which was instituted in 2002.

    For further information: