The Amazing Race Vietnam: Cuộc đua kỳ thú 2015 is the fourth season of The Amazing Race Vietnam, a Vietnamese reality competition show based on the American series The Amazing Race. It featured eight teams of two in a race around Vietnam for 300 million₫. This season's teams included celebrities and Amazing Race franchise fans.
The program premiered on VTV3 and aired every Friday primetime (9:00 p.m. UTC+7) from 17 July to 25 September 2015.
Phan Anh from The Voice of Vietnam replaced Huy Khánh from the previous season as the new host.
Married diving coaches Trần Ngọc Anh and Đỗ Nhật Anh were the winners of this season.
Production Development and filming
Filming for this season began in early 2015.
This season was the first time an Amazing Race franchise visited the nation of Laos, a country which was not visited by the original American edition until Season 31 four years later, as the international destination for the season.
This season saw modifications for the penalties in a non-elimination leg. While the usual stripping of money penalty remained, the "Marked for Elimination" penalty increased from 30 minutes to 45 minutes with the exception of Leg 2, which remained at 30 minutes. This is currently the only season in the Vietnamese edition where the U-Turn was absent.
Cast
Like the past two seasons, the cast mainly featured celebrity teams; however, this season also included non-celebrity teams, who were dubbed as "fans". This season also featured the lowest number of teams with eight, which tied with The Amazing Race China, which also featured eight celebrity teams.
ContestantsAgeProfessionHometownStatus 30 SingerHo Chi Minh CityEliminated 1st(in Hanoi) 28 Comedian 22Actress Cần ThơEliminated 2nd(in Vinh, Nghệ An) 24 Tân An, Long An 25Office Worker HanoiEliminated 3rd(on Little Island, Quảng Ngãi) 27 Seoul, South Korea 24 Model Trà Vinh, Trà VinhEliminated 4th(in Nha Trang, Khanh Hoa) 27 Singer Hanoi 24ActorHanoiEliminated 5th(in Da Lat, Lâm Đồng) 20 26 Actor Ho Chi Minh CityThird Place 25 Singer Hanoi 29 Hotel Manager HanoiSecond Place 25 Student Paris, France 25Diving CoachHo Chi Minh CityWinners 34
Future appearances Đăng Hoàng Phạm Ngô and Thùy Anh Nguyễn, and Phạm Thị "Song Ngư" Diễm Chi and Trúc Như Nguyễn Vũ, as well as Thúc Lĩnh "Lincoln" Dương Hồng who competed on a composite team, later returned in the fifth season which aired the following year. Ngọc Anh & Nhật Anh appeared in a task during the tenth leg of the same season.
Results The following teams participated in the season, with their relationships at the time of filming. Note that this table is not necessarily reflective of all content broadcast on television due to inclusion or exclusion of some data. Placements are listed in finishing order: TeamPosition (by leg)Roadblocksperformed1234567891011Ngọc Anh & Nhật Anh1st2nd1st1st5th1st1st1st2nd1stNgọc Anh 4, Nhật Anh 5Chí Thành & Lincoln3rd5th4th2nd4th6th5th2nd2nd1st2ndChí Thành 4, Lincoln 4Băng Di & Trang Pháp5th7th3rd4th2nd5th4th3rd3rdBăng Di 5, Trang Pháp 4Đăng Hoàng & Thùy Anh5th7th7th5th2nd2nd4th3rd3rdĐăng Hoàng 5, Thùy Anh 4Nam Thành & Hải Băng2nd6th2nd6th1st5th1st4thNam Thành 4, Hải Băng 4Phương Ly & Joo Young7th4th3rd4th6th3rd3rdPhương Ly 3, Joo Young 4Song Ngư & Trúc Như6th3rd6th3rd7th Song Ngư 3, Trúc Như 2Tim & Anh Đức4th1st Tim 2, Anh Đức 1
Key A team placement means the team was eliminated. A indicates that the team won a Fast Forward. A indicates that the team decided to use the Express Pass on that leg. A team's placement indicates that the team came in last on a non-elimination leg. An placement indicates that the team was "marked for elimination" and had to come in first on the next leg, otherwise they would be served a 30-minute (Leg 1) or 45-minute (Legs 3 & 7) penalty. An placement indicates that the team would not receive any money at the start of the next leg. An underlined leg number indicates that there was no mandatory rest period at the Pit Stop and all teams were ordered to continue racing. An underlined team placement indicates that the team came in last and was not eliminated.
Notes
Song Ngư & Trúc Như initially arrived 6th, but were issued a 15-minute penalty for not riding in an officially licensed taxi. This did not affect their placement. Băng Di & Trang Pháp initially arrived 4th, but were issued a 30-minute penalty for being "marked for elimination" and not arriving 1st. The last four teams trailing them checked-in during their penalty time, dropping Băng Di & Trang Pháp to last place; however, they were notified the Leg was non-elimination, and the remaining penalty would be assessed at the start of the next leg. Phương Ly failed to complete the Roadblock on Leg 3, and she & Joo Young were issued a 2-hour penalty at the Roadblock site. Đăng Hoàng & Thùy Anh and Tim & Anh Đức were each issued 15-minute penalties for damaging the base of their Hmong horn. At that time they were the only two teams left to check in at that point, but because Tim & Anh Đức were issued another penalty (see note 5), Đăng Hoàng & Thùy Anh's placement moved up to 7th, and their 15-minute penalty would instead be assessed at the start of the next leg. Tim & Anh Đức were further issued their 30-minute penalty as Tim held onto the guide rope during the Roadblock, which was explicitly prohibited in the clue. Their 45-minute penalty caused them to fall to last place; however, they were notified the Leg was non-elimination, and their 45-minute penalty would instead be assessed at the start of the next leg. Song Ngư & Trúc Như, Nam Thành & Hải Băng and Băng Di & Trang Pháp could not complete the ice rink challenge within two tries; each teams were issued 15-minute penalties at the site before receiving their next clue. Tim & Anh Đức initially arrived 5th, but were issued a 45-minute penalty for being "marked for elimination" and not arriving 1st. The last three teams trailing them (Đăng Hoàng & Thùy Anh, Nam Thành & Hải Băng and Băng Di & Trang Pháp) checked-in during the penalty time, dropping Tim & Anh Đức to last place and resulting in their elimination. Nhật Anh & Ngọc Anh used their Express Pass to bypass the money-making challenge on Leg 5. Song Ngư & Trúc Như did not complete the money-making challenge at Luang Prabang Night Market and were issued a 2-hour penalty before receiving their next clue. Because Ngọc Anh & Nhật Anh finished 1st, their 45-minute "marked for elimination" penalty was nullified. Phương Ly & Joo Young did not complete the task at Thoi Loi Mountain and were issued a 2-hour penalty before receiving their next clue. Băng Di & Trang Pháp failed the task at Tran Phu High School twice, so they forfeited their opportunity to choose between their next clue and the suitcase with money.
Prizes Leg 1 – The Express Pass (Thẻ Ưu Tiên) Leg 7 – Two InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort Vouchers Leg 11 – 300,000,000₫
Race Summary
Leg 1 (Quảng Ninh)
Airdate: 17 July 2015 Hạ Long, Quảng Ninh Province, Vietnam (Tuần Châu – Bến phà Tuần Châu) (Starting Line) Hạ Long (Bãi Cháy Tourist Wharf) Hạ Long (Hạ Long Bay) Cát Hải District (Luon Cave) Hạ Long (Quảng Ninh Museum and Library) Cẩm Phả (Quảng Ninh Coal Mine) Hạ Long (Bai Tho 1 Bridge)
This season's first Detour was a choice between Museum or Library. In Museum, teams had to find the museum section, where they would be given five cards containing brief information about a selection of artifacts. Teams would have to search the museum and place the cards with the correct artifacts to receive their next clue. In Library, teams made their way to the library section, where the librarian would give teams 30 books which had to be arranged in the respective shelves in the correct position to receive their next clue.
Additional tasks At Bến phà Tuần Châu, a drone would deliver the first clue, which instructed teams to travel together by tandem bicycle to Bãi Cháy Tourist Wharf to find their next clue. At Bãi Cháy Tourist Wharf, teams had to board a sampan and then paddle their boats through Hạ Long Bay following a series of arrows until they reached an island with an Amazing Race flag and their next clue. After finding the marked island, teams had to row to Luon Cave and search among several bottles until they found one with the Amazing Race icon, which they had to bring to a nearby floating village to exchange it for their next clue. At the Quảng Ninh Coal Mine, teams had to transport of coal along the mine using a wheelbarrow to a designated location to receive their next clue from a coal miner.
Leg 2 (Quảng Ninh → Cao Bằng)
Airdate: 24 July 2015 Cao Bằng, Cao Bằng Province (Bằng Giang Bridge) Quốc Toản (Thang Hen Lake ) Phúc Sen (Phúc Sen Primary School or Quang Uyen Stadium) Phúc Sen (Phia Trang Dưới Village) Pác Rằng (Village Houses) (Overnight Rest) Pác Rằng (Pác Rằng Smithy) Đàm Thuỷ (Ban Gioc–Detian Falls)
This leg's Detour was a choice between Arrange or Curving. In Arrange, teams made their way to a field near Phuc Sen Primary School. There, one team member had to climb atop a bamboo tower and had to instruct their to arrange bamboo sticks in a series of patterns. If they arranged the bamboo sticks correctly within four minutes, they would receive their next clue. In Curving, teams made their way to Quang Uyen Stadium, where they had observe a three-minute dragon dance performance performed by locals. Teams had to join the group with one member taking the role of the dragon's head and the other member holding the ball that leads the dance. If teams performed the dance incorrectly, they would receive a ten-minute penalty. Once teams performed the routine correctly, they would receive their next clue.
In this season's first Roadblock, one team member was provided with tools for harvesting corn. They had to go to the corn fields and harvest 20–23 kg (44-50 lbs) before bringing it to the farmer. If the weight corn brought back was within the accepted range, teams would receive their next clue. Otherwise, teams would receive a 15-minute penalty before receiving their next clue.
Additional tasks At Thang Hen Lake, teams had to build a bamboo raft using provided tools and materials. Once built, teams had to cross to the other side of the lake, retrieve two ducks from a pen, and then cross back to exchange the ducks for their next clue. After the Roadblock, teams had to travel to the village of Pác Rằng and search the village houses for one that would accommodate them for the night. If the teams found a house occupied with another team, they had to continue searching until they found a vacant one. At Pác Rằng's smithy, teams had to forge a knife by using the provided materials and following the instructions of the local blacksmith to receive their next clue.
Leg 3 (Cao Bằng → Hà Giang)
Airdate: 31 July 2015 Niêm Sơn, Hà Giang Province (Bản Tòng) Mèo Vạc (Dốc Tò Đú) Pả Vi (Bản Suối Kạn or People's Committee) Mèo Vạc (District Stadium) (Overnight Rest) Mèo Vạc (Hạnh Phúc Road) Mèo Vạc (Marked House) Pải Lủng (Mã Pí Lèng Pass)
In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to traverse a rope over two cliffs within a time limit based on the gender of the member performing the Roadblock (10-minutes for male racers, 15-minutes for female racers). If the team member managed to traverse the rope successfully, they would receive their next clue.