Saint Peter Nguyen Van Tu was born in 1796 in Ninh Cuong village (now belonging to the Bui Chu Diocese, Nam Dinh). From a young age, he lived in the parish house, then entered the seminary and was ordained a priest at the age of 30. A year later, he joined the Dominican Order and made his profession on January 4, 1827. During his 12 years of ministry, he devotedly served many parishes.

In June 1838, suspecting a priest was in hiding, government soldiers surrounded Ke Mot village. Although they did not find Father Tu, they discovered liturgical vestments, a rosary, and religious images. Under the pressure of interrogation, a villager revealed the priest's hiding place. On June 29, right after the Mass, Father Tu and the catechist Bui Van Uy were captured in Ke Mot parish.

In response to the district mandarin's offer to accept ransom money, Father Tu firmly replied: "For me, being captured for the holy faith is a grace from God. As for money, I have none, and I certainly do not wish to cause trouble for the faithful." At the public hearing, he used the opportunity of explaining religious objects to preach about God.

On August 9, the mandarin set up a display with a Crucifix on one side and torture instruments on the other, advising the priest to renounce his faith for an easy life. Father Tu resolutely refused: "As a priest, how could I commit such a grave sin, which no one could then forgive?" On September 2, Emperor Minh Mang ratified the beheading sentence.

Before the day of martyrdom, Father Tu asked Father Phuong to come and administer the Sacrament of Penance and give him Holy Communion. On September 5, 1838, at the Co Me execution ground, Father Tu reverently held an image of Christ and prayed silently until his final moment. His body was initially buried on the spot, but was later redeemed by the faithful and buried at Nghia Vu parish. Currently, his remains are preserved at the parish church of Trung Lai (Bac Ninh Diocese, Bac Giang).

Pope Leo XIII elevated Father Peter Nguyen Van Tu to the rank of Blessed on May 27, 1900. He was canonized a Saint by Pope John Paul II on June 19, 1988.