[1] Born in 1917 in Nghi Lộc District, Nghệ An Province of Annam (French protectorate), Quang was a son of Trần Văn Năng – a Confucianist who was jailed by French colonial government for six months.

His elder brother is Trần Văn Tăng – a teacher and revolutionist and member of New Revolutionary Party of Vietnam who was also jailed by the French and died in prison.

His second elder brother is Trần Văn Cung, who was a Vietnamese revolutionary and was the secretary of the first communist cell in Vietnam.

[3] During November 1946 and July 1947, Quang was the Commissar of Interregion IV (including 11 provinces of North Central Coast).

[6] In 1961, he went to Southern of Vietnam and became a member of Central Executive Committee of the People's Revolutionary Party who was in charge of military affairs.