Saint Micae Hồ Đình Hy was born in 1808 in Nhu Lâm village, Thừa Thiên prefecture. He was the youngest son of the high-ranking mandarin Giuse Hồ Đình Duyệt. His childhood name was Thục, which he changed to Hy after starting a family.

He studied Confucian classics and was appointed to the ninth-rank mandarin position at just 19 years old. One year later, he married Lucia Tân, from Sơn Công village, and together they had five children. However, during his time as a mandarin, he committed a moral failing by having a relationship with a young woman, resulting in three illegitimate children. To atone for this, he had these children baptized and cared for them diligently, while also striving to perform many good works.

His family was known for its devout spirit and often assisted clergy. Because of this, the two bishops François Pellerin (Phan) and Sohier (Bình) once took refuge there. Bishop Phan also appointed him as the head of the Catholic community in the imperial capital of Huế, a duty he quietly undertook.

In 1856, out of jealousy because he prevented the abuse of power and state funds, his fellow mandarins secretly memorialized Emperor Tự Đức, falsely accusing him of colluding with Westerners and plotting a rebellion to overthrow the monarchy.

During the trial sessions on May 18 and 21, 1857, he was brutally tortured, receiving sixty lashes each time. In his extreme pain, he inadvertently revealed the names of a few faithful, leading to their arrest. Some among them apostatized, while the rest, who remained steadfast in their faith, had the words "tả đạo" (heretic) carved on their cheeks and were exiled. He was filled with remorse, wept, confessed his sins, and prayed for God's mercy, determined to atone with his own blood.

On the morning of May 22, 1857, the royal steward Micae Hồ Đình Hy was led out of the Hiển Nhân Gate of the Đại Nội (Imperial Citadel) to the execution ground near An Hòa bridge. There, upon seeing Father Hạnh, he raised his hand to his forehead as a sign to request to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation for the last time. After being beheaded, his remains were interred within the foundation of the old church of the Phủ Cam parish.

On May 2, 1909, he was beatified and was elevated to sainthood on June 19, 1988.