Nguyen Huu Bai
Nguyen Huu Bai (Vietnamese: Nguyễn Hữu Bài) (1863 - 1935) was a Minister of the Interior in the Royal Court of Emperors such as Dong Khanh and Bảo Đại. Fluent in French and traditional character, he served as a Fifth
rank Mandarin. He was deployed to assisted French Vietnam delegates to China and represented Vietnam in France. As he aproached his 70s, he resigned, returned to Quang Tri and pursued research into Vietnamese Catholicism. Emperor Bao Dai refused his resignation and named him Duke of Phuoc Mon. Though he retired into a poor remote area, Nguyen Huu Bai was consulted by both French and Vietnamese for his sage wisdom and historical knowledge. He used his wealth to make the impoverish Phuoc Mon into a flourishing village.
During this time, he was intrigued by the Vietnamese martyrs lives and deeds. When the Vatican expressed interest in canonization of these martyrs, Nguyen Huu Bai researched the life of Michael Ho Dinh Hy and provided evidences to validate his existence for the initial process of beatification.
He was buried in Phuoc Mon, Quang Tri. French Ambassador Alérini was among the guests who delivered oratories in memoriam of this once brave and generous man who worked tirelessly through many Emperors and helped the poor.
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