Dragon of Annam

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Order of the Dragon of Annam

The Imperial Order of the Dragon of Annam was created on March 14, 1886 in the ancient Vietnamese city of Hue, by Emperor Dong-Khanh of the Imperial House of Annam, upon the "recommendation" of the President of France as a jointly awarded French colonial order. During this period (particularly during the era of Dong Khanh), Vietnam was ruled by the French. The Vietnamese Emperor had no authority of his own and had to have the authorization of the French government to give the order. As a symbolic gesture, Vietnamese officials who cooperated with the colonial government could receive it in the name of the King of Annam rather than the President of France.

The Order of the Dragon of Annam was "officially" created to acknowledge those who had performed great services to Vietnam. In fact, it became known among the Vietnamese as simply a badge for "collaborators", both military and civilians who aided in the French rule of Vietnam.

Throughout its entire history, the Order was also bestowed by the French Colonial Government. When French colonial rule over Indochina ended, the Order of the Dragon of Annam was abolished and replaced by the National Order of Vietnam which was later retained and revised by the Republic of South Vietnam. The ribbon of the Dragon of Annam was retained for this award, but it was (belatedly) recognized that a colonial order had no place in the new regime which was trying (unsuccessfully) to encourage Vietnamese popular support for the southern government. Throughout the history of the order it became too associated with the period of French rule. Even the name of "Annam" in the title of the order was a point of dishonor as the name comes from the old Chinese term for Vietnam, which means "the peaceful south".

Prince Bảo Vang of Vietnam currently serves as the Grandmaster of the Order of the Dragon of Annam [1] under Crown Prince Bảo Long of Vietnam. The position is non-political in Vietnamese politics and the role of the royal family under the leadership of Crown Prince Bảo Long is for humanitarian, educational, and cultural endeavors of the people of Vietnam.