Nguyễn Lân was born in South Vietnam. He is the first Vietnamese American trustee of Eastside Union High School District, which is one of the largest school districts in Santa Clara County, California.

Biography
During the Fall of Saigon, his father, a devout anti-communist, was an officer in the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN), and chose to remain, and defend his nation South Vietnam against the North Vietnamese Army and their Viet Cong agents.