He began playing the saxophone in 1979 and is a graduate of the Berklee College of Music.
[1] He has released five solo CDs and has performed and recorded with several Vietnamese pop singers.
Trần Mạnh Tuấn has performed with a number of well known musicians including Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Derek Nash, Lillian Boutte, Charlie Bisharat, Dave Grusin, Don Grusin, Hans Dulfer, Fulvio Albano, Rob Mullins, Mike Del Frerro, John Ferguson, Stephan Eicher, Co Co York, Jennifer Ryan, Mezcal Jazz Unit, Dana Leong, and Denis Mininfield.
[2] In 2005 he opened the Sax n' Art jazz club in Ho Chi Minh City.
[3] In 2005-2007, Tuấn was involved in Tim Gió, a musical and cultural exchange project between Vietnam and France.