Saint Stephen Nguyễn Văn Vinh was born in 1813 in Bồ Trang village, Thái Bình province (today part of giáo họ Bái Đông, xứ Bồ Ngọc, Thái Bình Diocese). Coming from a poor family, he worked as a hired laborer in Kẻ Mốt, Bắc Ninh province. Although still unbaptized, he regularly attended catechism classes, memorized several prayers—not only to understand the faith, but also to learn to read and write.

On June 29, 1839, when authorities arrested Father Peter Tự and ordered everyone present to trample on the Holy Cross, Vinh—though not yet a Christian—boldly declared:
“I would rather die than ever trample on the Holy Cross, for I know the religion of Jesus Christ is the true faith.”

Thinking he was already Catholic, the authorities arrested him and sent him to Bắc Ninh, where he was imprisoned together with Father Tự and numerous other believers. While in prison, he was baptized by Father Tự and chose Saint Stephen—the first martyr—as his patron.

Together with Father Tự, catechist Mậu, catechist Úy, layman Mới, and layman Đệ, Vinh was sentenced to giảo giam hậu—a form of strangulation deferred by one year. During imprisonment, the five strengthened one another in faith, wrote letters requesting admission into the Third Order of Saint Dominic, and made their religious profession right inside the prison. Under catechist Mậu’s guidance, they preached the Gospel and baptized 44 fellow prisoners.

On August 19, 1839, when brought before the tribunal and offered freedom in exchange for renouncing their faith, catechist Mậu spoke on behalf of all and refused. All five knelt before the Holy Cross and prayed aloud: “Lord, save us; we place our souls into Your hands.” The official, enraged, retorted: “These men cannot be forgiven—and they clearly do not wish to be!”

On December 19, 1839, moments before execution, the officials made one final offer: freedom in exchange for merely walking past—or around—the Holy Cross. Yet all five remained steadfast. They knelt and recited prayers aloud.

At the Cổ Mễ execution ground, each was tied to a stake and executed by strangulation. The body of Nguyễn Văn Vinh was taken for burial at the church of giáo họ Hương La, xứ Tử Nê, Bắc Ninh Diocese—where his relics remain enshrined to this day.

The martyr Stephen Nguyễn Văn Vinh was beatified by Pope Leo XIII on May 27, 1900, and canonized by Pope John Paul II on June 19, 1988.