Saint Joseph Nguyễn Đình Uyển was born in 1775 in Ninh Cường village, Nam Định province (now part of Ninh Cường Parish, Diocese of Bùi Chu). Living a devout and pious life from a young age, he joined the House of God, was guided by Father Nhân, took religious vows, and received the habit of the Third Order of Saint Dominic. Filled with zeal, he was appointed as a key assistant to Bishop Henares-Minh in the Eastern Diocese of Đàng Ngoài and served in pastoral work for many years in the Tiên Chu region.

On May 29, 1838, the mandarin of Hưng Yên province unexpectedly led soldiers to surround Tiên Chu village, conducting a thorough search to capture Western missionary priests. Failing to find Bishop Henares-Minh, a soldier noticed that Thầy Uyển was wearing the habit of the Third Order and immediately reported it. Thầy was arrested on the spot. The mandarin offered a condition: if he would step over the cross, he would be released. Thầy Uyển absolutely refused. The mandarin roared, "If you do not renounce your religion, I will behead you!" Thầy serenely replied, "My Lord Mandarins, I must be beheaded in order to hope for the resurrection." Immediately, he was placed in a cangue (a portable pillory) and thrown into prison.

At the courthouse, the mandarin ordered four soldiers to carry the cangue with Thầy inside and make him step over an image of the Holy Cross. Thầy struggled to draw his legs up to avoid touching the image. Enraged, the soldiers used clubs to beat his legs severely. In his extreme agony, Thầy could only earnestly pray to the Lord and Our Lady to grant him the strength to endure all humiliation and suffering.

The sentence from the court of Emperor Minh Mạng was handed down: "Nguyễn Đình Uyển, a native of this country, follows the false religion of Jesus (Giatô tả đạo), claims to be a teacher of the faith, has been reprimanded, and has undergone very severe torture and punishment many times. However, he is stubborn and refuses to apostatize, therefore he deserves death. Consequently, we condemn this individual, Nguyễn Đình Uyển, to decapitation."

Upon hearing the news of his death sentence, Thầy Joseph joyfully praised God and willingly took medicine for his illness while awaiting the day of grace. Yet, by the mysterious will of God, on July 4, 1838, he died in prison due to illness, old age, and starvation, thus becoming a faithful witness to the faith under the reign of Emperor Minh Mạng.

On May 27, 1900, Thầy Joseph Nguyễn Đình Uyển was beatified, and on June 19, 1988, he was canonized as a saint.