Born on June 17, 1766, in Ngoc Dong village, Hung Yen province, Saint Peter Nguyen Ba Tuan was known for his gentleness, morality, diligence in studying, and dedication to God from a young age, even learning Chinese characters.
As he grew up, he was sent to the seminary. However, shortly after his enrollment, during the reign of Emperor Canh Thinh in 1798, when the ban on Christianity was enforced, the seminary had to be disbanded. It wasn't until Emperor Gia Long ascended the throne in 1802 in Phu Xuan that the situation calmed down, and the seminary reopened. Tuan entered the seminary again and studied theology. In 1807, he was ordained as a priest.
In 1838, Emperor Minh Mang intensified the persecution of Christians. At that time, Father Tuan was serving in Lac Mon parish, Nam Dinh province. Upon hearing that the villagers of Quan Lieu were afraid of the spreading epidemic and refused to accept Father Fernandez - Hien to treat them, Father Tuan intervened and stayed behind to help calm the villagers and assist Father Hien.
After a few days, both priests fled to Kim Son, Ninh Binh province. However, even there, they were relentlessly pursued by the authorities. The faithful hid the two priests in a swampy area. Later, the pastor of Kim Son sought help from Bat Bien, someone who owed him many favors, to assist the two priests. Bat Bien betrayed them and handed them over to the governor of Nam Dinh, Trinh Quang Khanh. The two priests were imprisoned. Despite being 72 years old, Father Tuan endured brutal beatings and was sentenced to death.
On July 15, 1838, three days before the verdict was officially returned to Nam Dinh province, the witness of faith completed his life of dedication in prison, under the reign of Emperor Minh Mang. The faithful had to spend money to retrieve Father's remains and bury them in the grounds of Ngoc Dong church.
Father Peter Nguyen Ba Tuan was beatified on May 27, 1900, and canonized on June 19, 1988.