Lễ was born in 1854. Lễ's father was Nhận and his mother was Lưu Trần. His paternal grandparents were Tích and Vân Nguyễn. He had two sisters named Luyến and Theo. He had a half-brother and a half-sister, named Đăng and Sung. He died due to giỗ 2/12 âm lịch at the age of 62 in 1916. He was buried in Cổ Hạc.