Vicente Lukban was born in Labo, Camarines Norte on 11 February 1860. He studied at the Escuela Pia Publica in his hometown and in Manila. He enrolled at the Ateneo de Manila and later to San Juan de Letran where he took up Law.   Soon after he worked in the Court of First Instance in Quiapo, Manila as Oficial Criminalista before serving as Delegado Municipal and Juez de Paz.

In 1894, he was inducted into the Masonic Lodge, adopting the name Luz del Oriente (Light of the Orient). Together with Juan Miguel, he founded Lodge Bicol in Libmanan, Camarines Sur.

At the onset of the revolution, he was devoting himself to agriculture and commerce, founding the La Cooperativa Popular, an agricultural society. By 1896, his popularity had widened because he was considered influential even as far as Tayabas province, where revolutionary conspiracy exertions were noted. While attending a meeting of the agricultural society in Manila, he was arrested on 29 September. Lukban was tortured and incarcerated in Bilibid Prison until May 17, 1897. He was released with many political prisoners upon being pardoned by the governor-general. After this his revolutionary career became visible.

He tore the Spanish document of pardon and joined the staff of Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo. He was in-charge of the construction and fortifications and collection of provisions. He became the confidant of Gen. Aguinaldo starting from Biak na Bato until they were exiled in Hong Kong, and there he became member of the revolutionary junta.

In 1898, upon his return to the Philippines, he was appointed colonel in the revolutionary army and was assigned in Camarines and Catanduanes. He formed his expeditionary force and obtained the needed armaments in Tayabas province.  On 29 October 1898, Gen. Aguinaldo appointed him to the Comandancia Militar of Camarines Sur with residence in Nueva Caceres. His tasks included organizing local militias, settling political disputes, and collecting war contributions. On 21 December of the same year, he was promoted general of Samar and Leyte.

His first printed proclamation in the Visayas, Compoblanos Samarenos y Leytenos was circularized on the first day of 1899, it was a plea of unity to achieve the common good. The fight against the Americans induced him to adopt all-out guerilla warfare of which he became adept and he became successful from it. He utilized the terrain effectively, building arsenal in the Catbalogan Mountains.  He rallied the soldiers and people of Samar to persist with struggle. 

He won rare victories over the American troops, the most glorious of which were in Catbalogan, Catubig, and Catarman. Brig. Gen. Arthur C. MacArthur, Jr., offered 5,000 Pesos for Lukban’s head. He was offered the position of governor of Samar under the American regime, with autonomy, if he would surrender, but he refused. Lukban even helped the people in nearby provinces in continuing the war.

On 18 August 1901 a group headed by Captain H.L. Jackson, 1st U.S. Infantry, patrolling along the Catarman River, unexpectedly discovered the headquarters of Lukban, an encounter ensued. The general was wounded but managed to escape.

On Feb. 27, 1902, the New York Times reported: "The officials of the War Department regard the capture of Lukban as the most important military event since Aguinaldo's capture. He was run down on the Island of Samar. The place of his confinement is a tiny island in a bay on the north coast of Samar. Lukban is one of the most energetic and ferocious of rebels. He is a half-breed, a mixture of Chinese and Filipino stock, and has been an irreconcilable from the first. He had various fastnesses in the mountains of Samar, from which he would descend upon the coast towns, and his reign of terror was so complete that the entire population of the island paid tribute to him as the price of freedom from attack."

Gen. Miguel Malvar had all praises for him and approved of everything he had done for the country. Lukban even sought the cooperation of the Muslims in Mindanao.

Lukban was captured by Lt. Strebler on 19 February 1902 and brought to Manila. He was imprisoned in Talim Island in Laguna de Bay until 15 July 1902.

He lived in Manila. In the next year, he and his brothers, Justo and Cayetano were arrested for sedition. They were acquitted due to lack of evidence.

He returned into business and entered politics. He was elected governor of Tayabas province in 1912 and reelected in 1916 but did not complete his second term. He became ill and died on 16 November 1916 in Manila.