Hồng Y was the fourth son of EmperorThiệu Trị, and his mother was Nguyễn Thị Xuyên. He was granted the titleKiến Thụy Công (建瑞公, "Duke of Kiến Thụy") in 1846.[citation needed] He undertook a wide range of learning and had talents in literature. He often exchanged poems with EmperorTự Đức, PrinceMiên Thẩm and PrinceMiên Trinh. Tự Đức had no child, and adopted Hồng Y's second son Ưng Ái, whom later became the EmperorDục Đức.[2][3][4][5]
Hồng Y died in 1877. He was granted the titleKiến Thụy Quận Vương (建瑞郡王, "Provincial Prince Kiến Thụy") and received theposthumous nameTuệ Đạt (慧達).
In 1889, his grandsonThành Thái ascended the throne, and granted him the titleThụy Thái Vương (瑞太王, "King Father Thụy"), and changed his posthumous name toĐôn Chính (敦正).
^Bruce M. Lockhart, William J. Duiker Historical Dictionary of Vietnam 2006 p113 "Dục Đức (1852-1884). Emperor (r. 1883) under the Nguyén dynasty." Page 154 "A younger brother and adopted son of Emperor Tự Đức, [Hiép Hoa] succeeded his nephew Dục Đức after the latter was deposed by court officials in 1883. Hiép Hoa attempted to wrest power back from these officials, but he was not strong enough"