Hạnh was born in 1910. Hạnh's father was Thái and his mother was Cửu Nguyễn. His paternal grandparents were Tại and Yên Nguyễn. He had four brothers and four sisters, named Hy, Tý, Thủy, An, Đỏ, Thư, Khuê and Nhậm. He is the second oldest of the nine children.