This Medal can claim to be the second award, following the Australia Service Medal 1939-1945, created in the Australian system of honours and awards. The Medal was approved in 1968 by The Queen and counter signed by Prime Minister Sir John Gorton.

The Medal was created to recognise the service of members of Australian Armed Forces and accredited members of approved philanthropic organisations serving with our service personnel in South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Service is recognised between the dates 29 May 1964 and 27 January 1973.
Qualifying service includes:

• 28 days in ships or craft on inland waters or off the coast of Vietnam.
• One day or more on the posted strength of a unit or formation on land.
• one operational sortie over Vietnam or Vietnamese water by aircrew on the posted strength of a unit.
• official visits either continuous or aggregate of 30 days.
   

Applications for this Medal can be obtained from the relevant service medals sections in the Department of Defence, Canberra.