Coming from a Confucian family, he went to a highschool located in Hanoi (Buoi highschool), interpreter school, studied and graduated from Hanoi college of jurisprudence. 1923 – 1928 worked for Department of Library and Archives in Hanoi; participated in activities of Tri Tri group, taught the national language for the class opened in the evening for those who want to learn more. During this time, he also wrote and published some books such as “Writing the national language properly”, Geography of the Northern provinces (composed together with Dang Dinh Nghiem and Phan Van Thu). Luc Van Tien (with Dang Dinh Nghiem translated into French, titled Ung Hoe); Nomenclature des communes du Tonkin; LaSociete d'Enseignement du Tonkin Muluel.

From 1928 to 1939, he was moved to control some districts, alternately conferred in Cam Giang (Hai Duong), Quynh Coi (Thai Binh), Binh Luc (Ha Nam), Vo Giang (Bac Ninh), He always remember to take notes and compiled documents about the geography of this county. Between 1939, due to the debation with the porcelain of  Bac Ninh, he resigned and moved to work for Porcelain of the North Department of Archives. He was paralyzed from 1941 to 1945, and then passed away.

During his time working in Binh Luc, he was known for his integrity; he often came down to see the local people to asked and recorded the customs, landscapes, and fairytales. In Binh Luc Geography books, he described a locality through specific statistical parameters (area, population, schools, maternity, roads, rivers, etc.), he paid special attention to describe the houses, pagodas, temples, festivals, the legends and luminaries.

Work:

  • Geography of the Northern provinces (Ngo Vi Lien, Do Dinh Nghiem Pham Van Thu composed), Hanoi, Imp. Le Van Tan, 1927 (4th reprinted, as of 1935)
  • Write the National language properly (Ngo Vi Lien composed), Hanoi, Imp. Chan Phuong.
  • Nhat dung mong thu (Ngo Vi Lien composed), Hanoi, Imp. Kim Duc Giang.
  • Lettres de guerre d’un Ânnmite (Ngo Vi Lien translated works of Jean Marquet). Hanoi, Magazine of Tri Tri group, No. 4/1924..
  • Luc Van Tien (by Nguyen Dinh Chieu, translated to French by Nghiem-Lien, titled Ung Hoc, painted by Nguyen Van Chi), Hanoi, Imp. Le Van Tan.
  • Anthologie franco-indochinoise (Q1-Q6; Nguyen Van To, Ngo Vi Lien composed), Hanoi, Imp. Le Van Tan.
  • Nomeneclature des communes du Tonkin, class pas cantons phủ huyen on chau et-par provinces suivies d’une table alphabetique détailléc (Ngo Vi Lien composed), Hanoi, Imp. Le Van Tan, 1928.
  • Les oeuvres complémentares l’escole en Indochine: La Socíetes d’Enseignememt mutuef du Tonkin, Hanoi, Imp. Taupin, 1929.
  • Geography of Cam Giang District, Hanoi, Imp. Le Van Tan, 1931.
  • Geography of Quynh Coi, Hanoi, Imp. Le Van Tan, 1933.
  • Geography of Binh Luc District, Ha Noi, Imp. Le Van Tan, 1935.