Dương Tam Kha was one of Dương Đình Nghệ's sons, brother of Ngô Quyền's wife, empress Dương. According to "Đại Việt sử lược" (大越史略) (abridged historic book of Great Viet), his birth-name was Dương Chủ Tướng (), but according to "Tống sử" (宋史, History of Song), he was named Dương Thiệu Hồng (). Some historians said that he was the third son of Dương Đình Nghệ, after Dương Nhất Kha and Dương Nhị Kha.

He was a subordinate general of Khúc Hạo in the area of Aichau (now Thanh Hóa Province). In the year 931, Dương Đình Nghệ defeated Ly Khắc Chính and Ly Tiến, took up the capital of Đại La (former name of Hanoi), professed himself as "Tiết độ sứ" (equivalent to Lord Protector), a title established by the Chinese government to rule Giao Chỉ, a district that covered of what is now the northern area of Vietnam. Dương Tam Kha became a subordinate general of his father.

Six years later, Kiều Công Tiễn, also a general of Dương Đình Nghệ, mutinied and killed his master in order to replace Dương Đình Nghệ as "Tiết Độ Sứ". In 938, Ngô Quyền, son-in-law and also former general of Dương Đình Nghệ defeated the potency of Kiều Công Tiễn and also killed him. After that, Dương Tam Kha follow Ngô Quyền as his general. Some historic books said that he and Ngô Xương Ngập, son of Ngô Quyền, led the army to defeat Kiều Công Tiễn in Đại La.

As the Ngô Quyền's campaign was being developed, Kiều Công Tiễn sent the envoys to Southern Han to petition for sending army to help himself. King of Southern Han, Liu Yan, dispatched his son, Liu Hung-ts’ao to lead an infantry army to help Kiều Công Tiễn, he also led a different army to supply his son. But Kiều Công Tiễn was killed before this army arrived. In the November of 938, at the Battle of Bạch Đằng, the army was defeated by Ngô Quyền, Liu Hung-ts’ao was killed. Dương Tam Kha participated in this campaign.

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