Fr. Dong was born in a refugee village in the city of Dong Hoi, Province of Quang Binh, Vietnam, in 1953, one year before the Geneva Agreement that divided Vietnam into the North and the South. After this agreement, Fr. Dong's family relocated to another refugee camp in Danang, in Central Vietnam.

Fr. Dong entered St. John's Minor Seminary in 1965, and after high school graduation, entered Hoa Binh Major Seminary for his philosophy studies. In 1975, Fr. Dong began his theological studies for ordination, which he completed in three years. At this time, the Vietnamese government did not permit bishops to ordain priests without its approval. Finally, after a lengthy period of waiting, Fr. Dong was ordained to the Roman Catholic priesthood in 1992, as was assigned as pastor of a parish in the mountain area.

In 2001, Fr. Dong came to the United States, and began graduate studies in theology at the University of Our Lady of the Lake in Mundelein. There he earned the Licentiate degree in Sacred Theology. In 2003, Fr. Dong began studies for the Doctor of Ministry degree at Catholic Theological Union in Chicago, as was in-residency at St. Alexander Parish.

In 2007, Fr. Dong received his first assignment as parochial vicar at Sts. Peter and Paul Parish in Naperville. He served there for two years, until he was assigned to St. Joan of Arc Parish. Because Father is in the process of incardinating into the Diocese of Joliet, it is required that he spend several twp-year assignments at various parishes within the diocese.

Fr. Dong's rich cultural background as well as his many years of education are but two of the gifts by which the St. Joan of Arc community will be blessed.