Saint Peter Phan Huu Da was born around the year 1802 in Ngoc Cuc village, Nam Dinh province (now part of Ngoc Tien parish, Bui Chu Diocese) into a poor but honest and devout family. He married, worked as a carpenter, and lived an exemplary, virtuous life, taking good care of his wife and children. In addition to his work, he frequently helped at the church by ringing the bell and preparing the liturgical items.
After the promulgation of the anti-Christian decree on June 27, 1861, he was arrested and taken to the Xuan Truong district. Six days later, he was imprisoned in Qua Linh village. Despite being tortured in prison, he steadfastly refused to trample on the Holy Cross. When advised by the governor to comply, he firmly replied that he would never consent to stepping on the image of Christ.
On June 17, 1862, he was sentenced to be burned alive. When the flames subsided and he was still barely alive, the guards rushed in and beheaded him. His martyr's remains were buried at the execution site by his wife and fellow parishioners and reinterred in his hometown the following year.
On April 29, 1951, Peter Phan Huu Da was beatified, and he was canonized on June 19, 1988.