Resistance Medal
A campaign and service medal given to regular citizens and soldiers who helped the war effort.
Medals & Awards

History
North Vietnam created the Resistance Medal alongside the Order of the Resistance in 1947. While the Order was given for senior leaders and very long service, the medal was designed for ordinary soldiers, local volunteers, and village defenders.
The medal had two classes and recognized people who spent months or years assisting guerrilla operations. It recognized fighters who carried supplies through jungles, stood guard over villages, or fought in local militias.
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, it served as a universal symbol of popular resistance against foreign forces. It remains one of the most widely held medals from the war era.
Frequently Asked Questions
Used In
Veterans Who Received This Award

Nguyen Van Bay
Who Was Ace Pilot Nguyen Van Bay?
A legendary pilot who shot down seven American planes during the Vietnam War.

Chao Sisavang Vatthana
Who Was King Sisavang Vatthana?
A leader who resisted foreign occupation in Laos during World War II.
