The decoration was meant to express thanks to the people of the former Democratic Republic of Germany for their great assistance to the Vietnam-Germany Industrial College in the northern mountainous province of Thai Nguyen to help it overcome initial hardships and difficulties.

The former DRG assistance ranged from investment in the construction of infrastructure to the supply of equipment, teaching facilities and high-level expertise.

The college now has an enrolment of over 5,000, learning various trades such as engineering, information technology, welding and electricity.

The Federal Republic of Germany is committed to assisting the college in material supply, staff training and curricula compiling.