Saint Peter Nguyễn Bá Tuần was born in 1766 in Ngọc Đồng village, Hưng Yên province. From childhood, he was gentle, devout, diligent in his studies, and early on dedicated himself to God, also studying Chinese characters (chữ Nho).

As a young man, he entered the seminary, but soon after, an edict banning Christianity issued by Emperor Cảnh Thịnh forced the seminary to disband. It was only after Emperor Gia Long ascended the throne and conditions stabilized that the seminary reopened. Seminarian Tuần resumed his theological studies and was ordained a priest in 1807.

In 1838, during the reign of Emperor Minh Mạng, anti-Christian decrees were intensified. At that time, Father Tuần was pastor of Lác Môn parish in Nam Định province. Hearing that the villagers of Quần Liêu had refused to allow their pastor, Father Fernandez Hiền, to come treat his illness for fear of repercussions, Father Tuần went to intervene and stayed to reassure the villagers, encouraging them to support their pastor.

After a few days, the two priests fled to Kim Sơn district in Ninh Bình province. However, soldiers continued their relentless pursuit. The faithful hid the two priests in a muddy swamp. Later, the pastor of Kim Sơn asked Bát Biên—a man who had previously received favors from him—for help. But Bát Biên betrayed them and handed the two priests over to Trịnh Quang Khanh, the governor-general of Nam Định.

The two priests were imprisoned. Although already 72 years old, Father Tuần was brutally beaten and sentenced to death. On July 15, 1838—three days before the imperial ratification of the sentence arrived at the Nam Định provincial office—he died in prison, completing his life of total dedication to the faith.

The faithful had to pay a large sum to ransom his body and bring it back for burial at the site of Ngọc Đồng church.

Priest Peter Nguyễn Bá Tuần was beatified by Pope Leo XIII on May 27, 1900, and canonized by Pope John Paul II on June 19, 1988.