The Amazing Race Vietnam 2016

The all-star teams gathered at the Thác Bà Hydroelectric Dam to begin the fifth season of The Amazing Race Vietnam.

This season began filming in late 2015.

As the season was titled "All-Stars", it is the first time that one of the international spin-offs of The Amazing Race featured returning contestants (the eleventh, the eighteenth (dubbed as "Unfinished Business") and the twenty-fourth seasons of the original American version also featured returning teams).

The non-elimination penalty, the Speed Bump, was introduced to the series. As with the American version, the Speed Bump requires the team that finished last in a non-elimination leg to perform an additional task at some point during the next leg.

During this season's visit to Australia, there was a planned Roadblock task in Yarrawonga involving an ultralight aircraft. During filming, an ultralight crashed after encountering dust devils, killing both occupants. Ian Cook, the pilot who flew along with Sydney-based Vietnamese cameraman Quoc Huong Vu, were taking aerial shots of the location.[1] This incident occurred during the middle of a Roadblock, which some of the contestants had already completed. As such, the Roadblock task was cancelled, and teams continued to New South Wales to continue with the leg.[2] The task in Yarrawonga was not aired or acknowledged during the episode.

Hương Giang Nguyễn appeared on the sixth season as a clue giver during the third episode and served as the host during the seventh episode in 2019.[4]

During the first leg on Thác Bà Lake, teams had to paddle a bamboo raft.

Airdate: 31 March 2016

• Thác Bà, Yên Bái Province, Vietnam (Thác Bà Hydroelectric Dam) (Starting Line)
• Thác Bà (Rừng Tràm Island)
• Thác Bà (Hydroelectric Dam Bridge)
• Thác Bà (Dền Mẫu Thác Bà)

In this season's first Roadblock, one team member had to climb a rope ladder up the tower in the centre of the hydroelectric dam bridge, carrying with them the bottle of Sting Energy Drink from the previous task to exchange for the next clue at the top.

Additional tasks

• At Thác Bà Hydroelectric Dam, one team member made their way down to the bottom of the dam to find two clue envelopes, only one of which actually contained a clue. They would choose one envelope and carry it in their mouth. Their partner would then rappel down the dam to retrieve it, however their safety cord wasn't long enough to reach all the way to the bottom, so they had to stretch to reach their partner. Once both were back on top, they opened the clue. If the empty envelope was chosen, they had to do the task again.
• Teams then had to paddle a bamboo boat to Rừng Tràm Island where they touched an Amazing Race flag to determine the order in which teams could perform the next task. One team member would be blindfolded for the duration of the task. Their partner had to guide them using verbal directions through a spiderweb of ropes to find their next clue at the end. If they touched any ropes along the way, a bell would ring. After touching a rope twice, they would have to go to the back of the line and try again. Teams then paddled back to the mainland and the dam.
• From the dam's bridge, teams threw a bucket with a rope attached off the side to fill it with water from below then pulled it back up. They then had to transfer the water to a second leaky bucket and quickly run it to the other side of the bridge to pour it into a glass box. Once the box was filled enough that a bottle of Sting Energy Drink floated to the top, they received the clue for the Roadblock.

The second leg in Yên Bái Province concluded at Khau Phạ Pass.

Airdate: 7 April 2016

• Tú Lệ, Mù Cang Chải (Specified House)
• Tú Lệ (Village Bridge)
• Tú Lệ (Village Farm)
• Tú Lệ (Chief's House)
• Lìm Mông (Khau Phạ Pass)

In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to cross a series of rings suspended beneath the village bridge to retrieve the Detour clue on the other side. If they fell into the river below, they had to go to the back of the line and try again.

This season's first Detour was a choice between Eat or Make, which both took place at a village farm. In Eat, teams had to use bamboo poles and a campfire to traditionally cook three orders of rice to a judge's satisfaction to receive their next clue. In Make, teams had to fully cover a wooden bovine skeleton in hay to create a sculpture. Once approved, they received their next clue.

Additional tasks

• Teams had to travel by motorcycle to the village of Tú Lệ and search for one house with a sticker of The Amazing Race Vietnam logo on the fence.
• After the Detour, teams carried two buckets from the village chief's house to the local water supply and filled them with water. They had to transport the buckets using shoulder harnesses across the uneven paths through the village back to the chief to receive their next clue. If they spilled too much water on the way, they would incur a time penalty at the Pit Stop.

Teams visited the Ancient Stone Field of Sa Pa while in the Lào Cai Province.

Airdate: 14 April 2016

• Mù Cang Chải (Raspberry Hill)
• Sa Pa, Lào Cai Province (Sapa Ancient Stone Field (in Vietnamese))
• Y Tý (Town Limits)
• Y Tý (Town Centre) (Overnight Rest)
• Y Tý (Farm)
• Y Tý (San Bai Mountain)

This leg's Detour was a choice between Loaf or Hair, which both took place in Y Tý town centre. In Loaf, teams had to use traditional methods and tools to make a Vietnamese glutinous rice cake called a Bánh giầy to receive their next clue. In Hair, teams had to make a traditional wig by weaving string together in the style of braided hair, then dying it with an herb mixture and heating it over an open flame to receive their next clue.

Additional tasks

• At Raspberry Hill, teams were shown a photograph of a location that they had to memorize and find. Once there, they had to take a photograph that was identical to the one shown to receive their next clue.
• At the Sapa Ancient Stone Field, teams searched the field for keys to a provided decoder device with individually rotating parts. Then, using hints written on stones scattered throughout the field, they had to decipher a six-word phrase to receive their next clue.
• At the Y Tý town limits, teams had to collect and carry a bundle of firewood – 10 kilograms (22 lb) for women, 15 kilograms (33 lb) for men. However, if they could remember the phrase from the previous task, they could each lighten their bundle by one kilogram (2.2 lb). Using a provided stick and some rope, they had to transport their firewood on foot six kilometres (3.7 mi) to the centre of town to receive the clue for the Detour.
• After the Detour, teams traveled to a nearby farm and took turns riding a device resembling a rotating seesaw, sitting on opposite sides. If both team members performed a full 360° rotation in succession without touching the ground more than once, either team member could reach up to grab a clue hanging overhead.

At the Phủ Dầy Temple in Nam Định Province, teams had to recreate Chinese characterss using a group of children.

Airdate: 21 April 2016

• Đọi Sơn, Hà Nam Province (Trống Đọi Tam)
• Đọi Sơn (Ancestor Temple)
• Đại Hoàng (Bá Kiến's House)
• Kim Thai, Nam Định Province (Phủ Dầy Temple (in Vietnamese))
• Nam Định (Nam Định Museum)

This leg's Detour was a choice between Make 'n Play or Drum 'n Shout, which both took place at Trống Đọi Tam. In Make 'n Play, teams had to use provided materials to build a traditional Vietnamese drum. This included using a winch and the weight of a team member to stretch the skin over the top of the barrel. Once approved, they received their next clue. In Drum 'n Shout, teams listened to a performance by a duo of musicians, who sang and played small drums and erhu. They then had to correctly match the lyrics and drum rhythm, accompanied by erhu, to receive their next clue.

Additional tasks

• After the Detour, teams found the U-Turn board at Ancestor Temple.
• The clue after the U-Turn instructed teams to travel to Bá Kiến's House, where they had to recreate the Vietnamese short story Chí Phèo and Thị Nở. Dressed as the titular characters, they had to prepare and then simultaneously cook numerous pots of congee using a long cooking tray and lighting a fire underneath that is the full length of the tray. Once ready, each team member had to feed the other a dish of the soup to receive their next clue. They would receive a time penalty of 10 minutes at the Pit Stop for each pot that was improperly cooked.
• At Phủ Dầy Temple, teams had to choose one of four Chinese characters and arrange a group of children to form the shape of the character, with one team member directing their partner from above, to receive their next clue. Each character required a specified number of children.

After leaving Huế, teams visited the Tam Giang lagoon.

Airdate: 28 April 2016

• Nam Định (Nam Định Railway Station) to Huế, Thừa Thiên Huế Province (Huế Railway Station)
• Huế (Imperial City)
• Huế (February 3 Park or Trường Sanh Palace)
• Huế (Phong Phu Plaza – Lotteria)
• Sịa (Tam Giang Lagoon)
• Lăng Cô (Hải Vân Pass)

This leg's Detour was a choice between Fly or Graceful. In Fly, teams traveled to February 3 Park, where they had to assemble, paint, and fly a butterfly kite to receive their next clue . In Graceful, teams traveled to Trường Sanh Palace, where they had to dress in full costume and take part in a Hát tuồng performance to receive their next clue.

Additional tasks

• After arriving in Huế, teams made their way to Imperial City, where there were many woman walking around in traditional clothing. One held their next clue, but would hand it to another as they passed. They had to search for the one currently holding their clue and interact with them without speaking to them to receive the clue, which was for the Detour.
• After the Detour, teams traveled to the Lotteria fast food restaurant in Phong Phu Plaza, where they had to wear a chef's hat and prepare hamburgers to the restaurant's specifications to receive their next clue.
• At Tam Giang Lagoon, where they had to use a traditional fishing net and a sampan to fish plastic balls out of the water. Once they collected fifteen balls, they received their next clue.

Teams ended their leg in Phú Yên Province at Ghềnh Đá Đĩa.

Airdate: 5 May 2016

• Tuy Hòa, Phú Yên Province (April 1 Square)
• Sông Cầu (Coconut Plantation)
• An Ninh Tây (Miếu Ông Cọp or Bình Bá River)
• An Ninh Tây (Wooden Bridge)
• Thôn Phú Hạnh (Bàng Beach)
• Thôn Phú Hạnh (Ghềnh Đá Đĩa)

In this leg's Roadblock, one team member had to climb to the top of a coconut tree, using only their hands and feet, and pull off one coconut to receive the clue for the Detour.

This leg's Detour was a choice between Learn or Do. In Learn, teams traveled to Miếu Ông Cọp, where they had to learn a series of intricate animal poses and actions and correctly perform their in succession to receive their next clue. In Do, teams traveled to Bình Bá River, where they had to use an ancient winch to fully raise a large fishing net out of the water to receive their next clue.

Additional tasks

• After the Detour, teams made their way to a large wooden bridge nearby. Using a stick and a small woven cage, one team member had to guide a single duck all the way across the bridge, keeping it from jumping into the water, while their partner had to cross the bridge carrying a basket of coconuts on their head. Once both fully across, they carried the duck back to the other side to exchange for their next clue.
• At Bàng Beach, one team member had to toss three paint-filled water balloons through a suspended thorn-covered ring and into a basket on their partner's head to receive their next clue.

The lighthouse in Vũng Tàu served as the seventh Pit Stop.

Airdate: 12 May 2016

• Tuy Hòa to Biên Hòa, Đồng Nai Province
• Biên Hòa (Pho Hung Restaurant)
• Long Sơn, Bà Rịa–Vũng Tàu Province (Salt Farm or Lê Văn Ánh's House)
• Long Sơn (Liên Hoàn Obstacle Course)
• Long Sơn (Mr. Tâm's House)
• Vũng Tàu (Thuy Van Beach)
• Vũng Tàu (Vietsovpetro Port)
• Vũng Tàu (Vũng Tàu Lighthouse (in Vietnamese))

In this leg's first Roadblock, one team member had to eat an entire five-kilogram (11 lb) bowl of pho within 45 minutes to receive the clue for the Detour. If they didn't finish, they would still receive their clue once the 45 minutes were up, but they would incur a time penalty at the Pit Stop, the length dependent on how much the team member ate.

This leg's Detour was a choice between Salt or Fish. In Salt, teams traveled to a salt farm, where they had to harvest five wheelbarrows full of salt to receive their next clue. In Fish, teams traveled to Lê Văn Ánh's House, where one team member would be blindfolded. Following directions from their partner, they had to enter the mud flats and catch three giant mudskippers with their bare hands to receive their next clue.

In this leg's second Roadblock, the team member who did not perform the previous Roadblock had to complete a three-part obstacle course. First, they had to ride a bicycle across a thin and bumpy wooden bridge. Then, they had to swim under a series of ropes through muddy water without touching any of the ropes. Finally, they had to stand on a raised log and attempt to knock an opponent off the log, each using sandbags, the racer being given three attempts to do so. If they completed the course, they received their next clue. If they failed any part of the course, they would have to start over.

Additional tasks

• After the second Roadblock, one team member had to cross a rickety bamboo bridge, weighted down by their partner, to retrieve their next clue on the other side and then hand it to their partner.
• At Thuy Van Beach, teams had to find and convince a local to wash them in the ocean until they completely use up a bar of soap, after which they received their next clue.
• At Vietsovpetro Port, teams had to stack milk crates high enough to reach a clue hanging overhead. One member would be on top of the baskets stacking them as their partner handed them baskets from the ground.

The Detour on the island of Côn Đảo took place at the Phu Tuong Prison.

Airdate: 19 May 2016

• Ho Chi Minh City (Tan Son Nhat International Airport) to Côn Đảo (Con Dao Airport)
  • Côn Đảo (Nhát Beach)
• Côn Đảo (Đất Dốc Beach)
• Côn Đảo (Bãy Cạnh)
• Côn Đảo (Phu Tuong Prison)
• Côn Đảo (Ông Đụng Beach)
• Côn Đảo (Van Son Pagoda)
• Côn Đảo (Historic Pier 914)

In this season's only Fast Forward, which was a homage to the game show Deal or No Deal, one team member had to put on snorkeling gear and swim a long distance from the beach to a boat anchored far offshore, then dive down to retrieve a briefcase from beneath an attached raft. The other team member must do the math without using calculator or paper. After returning to their partner on shore with the briefcase, they received a phone call from host Huy Khanh offering them VND60 million (approx. US$2,650) to give up the briefcase and immediately be eliminated, or bring the briefcase to the Pit Stop, where he would make the same offer again, this time for VND150 million (approx. US$6,620).

In this leg's Roadblock, after traveling to a designated offshore location by boat, one team member had to put on snorkeling gear and dive down to the coral reef, where they would collect as many oysters as they could find on the sea floor, then return to the boat to open them. Some oysters contained a white pearl, some contained a black pearl. If they didn't find three black pearls, they had to wait out a 15-minute time penalty before diving again. Otherwise, they received their next clue.

This leg's Detour was a choice between Knock Knock or Melting Time, both taking place in Phu Tuong Prison. In Knock Knock, teams learned how to communicate in Morse code. They were then locked in adjacent cells. One team member received a message to relay to their partner by knocking it in Morse Code on the wall. If their partner understood the message correctly, they received their next clue. In Melting Time, one team member was locked in a cell, and had to stand on continuously on a block of ice for five minutes, then rest for five minutes, repeating for the duration of the task. Meanwhile, their partner had to draw at random to determine the type of spoon they could use to dig the cell key out of a large block of ice. Upon retrieving the key, they unlocked their partner's cell and received their next clue.

Additional tasks

• Upon arrival at Con Dao Airport, teams found their next clue outside of the airport, which also contained the Fast Forward clue.
• At Ông Đụng Beach, teams used rope to pull a heavy box filled with rocks with water. At the bottom of the box was their next clue.
• At Van Son Pagoda, one team member had to memorize a Vietnamese poem while wearing headphones listening to distracting music and walking up the steps of the temple. They then had to teach the poem to their partner, who was waiting at the top and blindfolded. If the partner correctly recited the poem, they received their next clue.

Additional note

• At Con Dao Airport, teams found bicycles that would serve as their transportation for the rest of this leg.

Teams visited the town of Wymah during their leg in Australia.

Airdate: 26 May 2016

• Con Dao (Con Dao Airport) to Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Melbourne Airport)
• Melbourne (Melbourne Airport to Docklands – Southern Cross Railway Station)
• Melbourne (Docklands – Southern Cross Railway Station) to Yarrawonga (Yarrawonga Railway Station)
• Yarrawonga (Yarrawonga Airport) (Task Cancelled)
• Mulwala, New South Wales (Max Kirwan Lakes Park)
• Wymah (Wymah Ranch)
• Bowna (Great Aussie Park)

There was to be a Roadblock on this leg involving one team member piloting and landing an ultralight aircraft, but due to the death of a cameraman and pilot as noted in the Development section above, this task was canceled and teams were moved onto the next location. It was not mentioned in the episode.

Additional tasks

• At Max Kirwan Lakes Park, team water skied behind a speedboat. Both team members had to remain standing until the boat passed a series of marked buoys. If one fell, they had to try again. Once completed, they were taken to shore near their next clue box.
• At Wymah Ranch, there was a multi-part task. First, teams dressed in the body paint of Indigenous Australians. One team member learned how to play the didgeridoo while their partner learned a traditional dance ritual. Once both were completed to the judge's satisfaction, they received their next clue. Teams then made their way to the ranch's sheep pens and entered one of the pens, where they had to count the correct number of sheep (between 123 and 129) to receive their next clue. Finally, they had to enter a different sheep pen, where four of the sheep were wearing a ribbon corresponding to each team's designated colour. They then had to herd the sheep of their respective colour into a third pen to receive their next clue.
• At Great Aussie Park, both team members had to balance on rolling logs and hit a bullseye on a target using a bow in archery to receive their next clue.

The first task of the penultimate leg took place at the Củ Chi Tunnels.

Airdate: 2 June 2016

• Albury (Albury Railway Station) to Melbourne, Victoria (City Centre – Flinders Street Railway Station)
• Melbourne (Melbourne Airport) to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam (Tan Son Nhat International Airport)
• Phú Hiệp (Củ Chi Tunnels)
• An Phú (Mot Thoang Tourist Area)

For their Speed Bump, Pha Lê & Hà Việt Dũng each had to place 10 metal nuts onto a chopstick, then both stack all 10 on top of each other without the stack falling over before they could continue racing.

This leg's Detour was a choice between Knit or Carry. In Knit, teams had to weave together a traditional Vietnamese basket to receive their next clue. In Carry, teams had to carry heavy hay bales to a marked area and build a haystack 2 metres (6.6 ft) in diameter and 2.5 metres (8.2 ft) high to receive their next clue.

Additional tasks

• At the Củ Chi Tunnels, teams had to put on blindfolds and enter the tunnels to search for flashlights. Once found, they would return to the entrance and would find a pair of heavy sacks to haul through the tunnels and through the nearby woods to receive their next clue.
• At the entrance to the Mot Thoang Tourist Area, teams had to dress in large sumo wrestling costumes and face off in a sumo match, on a soap-filled arena, against one of two previous The Amazing Race Vietnam winning teams - either Baggio & Thành Phúc of Season 1, or Ngọc Anh & Nhật Anh of Season 4. If they could force both of their opponents out of the ring, they received the Detour clue.
• After the Detour, teams received a set of photographs of Vietnamese landmarks and corresponding tags identifying them. They had to match the tags to the correct photographs and place them in the correct locations on a large Vietnamese map. If any were incorrect, they would be told how many. After failing the task twice, they could look at an answer sheet to memorize before trying again. Once all were correct, they could make their way to the nearby Pit Stop.

Additional note

• Upon arrival in Ho Chi Minh City, teams found small motorized bicycles that served as their transportation for this leg.

The Mong Bridge in Ho Chi Minh City served as the Finish Line for The Amazing Race Vietnam 2016.

Airdate: 9 June 2016

• Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens)
• Ho Chi Minh City (Notre Dame Cathedral)
• Ho Chi Minh City (Tao Đàn Park)
• Ho Chi Minh City (Ho Chi Minh City Circus or Chuồn Chuồn Giấy Club)
• Ho Chi Minh City (Nguyễn Huệ Promenade)
• Ho Chi Minh City (5 Nguyễn Tất Thành Street)
• Ho Chi Minh City (Mong Bridge)

This season's final Detour was a choice between Circus or Drama. In Circus, teams traveled to the Ho Chi Minh City Circus, where one team member had to walk across a circus tightrope while their partner launched themselves onto a trapeze and swung to reach their next clue on the ceiling. In Drama, teams traveled to Chuồn Chuồn Giấy Club, where they had to dress in elaborate costumes and perform a short comedy-drama skit to the approval of the judge to receive their next clue.

In this leg's first Roadblock, one team member had to ride a self-balancing scooter and maintain their balance while navigating through a maze of Sting Energy Drink cans and cases. They had to make their way to four specific points within the maze to pick up a can of Sting at each. If they collected and four and then reached the centre of the maze within an allotted time limit, they could retrieve the clue for the second Roadblock.

In this season's final Roadblock, one team member had to climb to the top of a rock-climbing wall attached to the side of an upturned shipping container, then climb a rope to the top of a giant Sting Energy Drink can, all within an allotted time limit, to receive their final clue.

Additional tasks

• At the beginning of the leg, teams made their way to Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens to find their next clue outside the zoo entrance.
• On the grounds outside Notre Dame Cathedral, teams had to search through a large crowd for one of three people carrying a briefcase bearing The Amazing Race Vietnam logo, which contained their next clue.
• At Tao Đàn Park, teams had to dress in provided clothing and props, and then apply metallic-coloured paint to themselves, to become living statues matching example photographs. They then had to pose and convince locals to take photographs with them, 10 photographs in total, including some with men, women, children, and elders, to receive the Detour clue.