Tan was born on a Earth-like colony world in the Nemehi system. Raised in a cultural enclave of descendants of original Earth stock cultures; an interesting mix of Vietnamese, Polynesian and Australian settlers. The cultural memory of these Oceanic peoples lent itself well to the gulf of space, and many made the journey to their new home in Nemehi A 6. The locals referred to their new world as Wā Kāinga, 'distant home' in the common spacer English.
He spent most of his youth in this idyllic world; his father was a scientist for the federal navy research division located on world and his mother was a renowned naturalist. Trini Lews Nguyen was known the world over for her field guides to the various endemic flora and fauna found on Wā Kāinga and for her narrations for the wildlife documentaries spawned by the vibrant diversity of their home world.
Early on, Tan discovered he had a knack for flying, though it would be some time before he would realize this dream.