Nguyen Kim Doan was born on 13 August 1978 in Ninh Thuan, Vietnam.

He completed a Bachelor of Science in 2000 at Dalat University.

On 31 May 2002, Doan joined the novitiate of the Society of Jesus in Vietnam and took his vows two years later.

He studied philosophy for three years at Saint Joseph Scholasticate in Thu Duc, Vietnam and came to Australia on 07 April 2007 for his theological studies at Jesuit Theological College.