Thanhlan was raised in Binh Dinh, Viet Nam. She married Phuong Dinh Tran in 1951 and the couple had nine children.
In her spare time, Thanhlan enjoyed gardening, reading, and knitting. Her family and friends will always remember her as a caring and loving mother.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Phuong Dinh Tran; grandson, Rhett Duy Tran; son, Anh Hoang Tran.
She is survived by her sons, Tuan Dinh Tran and wife, Chinh Cao; sons, Dung Anh Tran, Trong Dinh Tran; daughters, Thuy Thanh Tran and husband, Tin Dang, Trang Thanh Tran, Cindy Tran, Thanh Ha Tran Thi and husband, Todd Pitts; fifteen grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.