The Amazing Race 10, Episode 4: Sit Down, You’re Rocking the Boat

Previously on Not Without My Daughter: Nine teams headed to Vietnam, which affected David more than anyone else. Tom & Terry got upset with Kandice & Dustin for seemingly cutting the line, because we’re all in third grade. ErGo were the first to the Pit Stop, and though Tom & Terry were second, they suffered a penalty for not paying attention to their clue. Sadly, Duke & Lauren took even longer to build a birdcage and had to leave us. Eight teams are left:

Erwin & Godwin (Team ErGo) - Brothers/Finally starting to give a good showing

Tyler & James (Team Zoolander) - Models/recovering drug addicts/Kind of annoying but I’m not sure why

Rob & Kimberly - Dating/Sigh

Dustin & Kandice - Friends/Racing very consistently

Peter & Sarah - Recently dating/Sentimental favorites (well, not him)

Lyn & Karlyn (Team Dublyn) - Friends/Hanging out with Mary & David

Mary & David - Married/Sentimental favorites/Probably getting the best experience out of everyone

Tom & Terry - Dating/Need to leave Dustin & Kandice alone

Wow, Vietnam is pretty. Phil tells us that Rob collapsed from heat exhaustion at the end of the last leg and had to receive medical attention before he was allowed to keep going. Mary is still struggling with her hurt ankle. Thanks for the update, Phil. ErGo are the first to leave at 10:55 p.m. They’re heading back to Hanoi via taxi to find the Ly Thai To Garden and “listen for their next clue.” They first have to collect dong from a man at a table. Erwin interviews that it’s a big responsibility to be Asian-American on this race. They can compete with the best and show different sides of their culture, including their sense of humor. As a demonstration, one of them shouts, “We’re going to Disneyland!” Maybe after the race, guys. They have those hats with the lights on them. I would have to think those are good investments.

Zoolander leave next. I’m tired of their interviews about being in rough spots, picking each other up, blah blah addiction blah blah recovery blah blah. We get it. They enjoy the word “dong.” Mature. Rob & Kimberly leave next, Rob saying that he feels good despite the heat exhaustion. He adds that he thinks control is a big thing in this relationship. He has to work on it as much if not more than Kimberly. Dustin & Kandice leave next, Dustin interviewing that she thinks people are starting to get a sense of how competitive they are. They’ve come in fourth in two legs and fifth in one - I should hope people are realizing that they’re serious contenders. Dustin continues that they have to do their thing, and if people see them being competitive, they’ll learn something about them.

Sarah and her albatross… I mean Peter leave next. Sarah interviews that Peter is “a complicated guy.” Some things about him are wonderful and some are disappointing and surprising. Dublyn are the next to go as Lyn interviews that this is the longest she’s been away from her kids, but winning the race would better their lives. Karlyn says that’s her motivation. David & Mary are next to depart, Mary saying that she’s going to have to be Superwoman if this race gets any harder. She’s a couch potato who just watches reality TV all the time. But remember, Cirie from Survivor: Exile Island said the same thing, and look how far she got. Mary’s not sure how she’s still in the race. She doesn’t want to give up because she’s doing this for her kids. That’s probably one of the big reasons she and David have connected with Dublyn. David says that every day is a new day and Mary gleefully adds that they’re within minutes of everyone.

Terry & Tom leave last, just under and hour after ErGo. Terry says they’re not going to let their placing get them down; they’re just going to pay more attention and keep their energy up. ErGo are afraid they’re heading in the wrong direction. They probably are, as Zoolander arrive at the garden first. There seems to be an announcement sounding over a loudspeaker. Sarah & Peter arrive next and Sarah takes off, wondering why Peter is being slow. Ditto for Kimberly & Rob. Dustin & Kandice hope this won’t be too difficult. They quickly find a box filled with what looks like grass and hear crickets.

While ErGo are asking for directions, Dublyn reach the garden next. A statue tells the racers to take a taxi across the Red River to Ben Xe Gia Lam. Then, they’re to take a bus to Ben Xe Bai Chay and find the Hydrofoil Harbor. That’s a ton of words that sound completely different from the way they’re spelled, which is a neat twist that forces the racers to do more legwork and thinking than usual. Dublyn get a cab first and head off even though their driver doesn’t seem to know where they want to go. Kandice & Dustin are right behind them. Zoolander and Sarah & Peter, however, get drivers to listen to the statue. Smart. Kimberly & Rob tell their driver to follow Zoolander but the traffic doesn’t really allow it. Kimberly needs Rob to not freak out right now. She considers getting out and going back to the garden.

Terry & Tom are at the garden now. Mary & David are still in their cab and Mary loves their driver. “You ain’t takin’ him home,” David tells her, like she’s a kid who brought home a dog and said, “Can I keep him?” Hee. They get to the garden, followed by a returning Rob & Kimberly. They ditch their cab, upset that their driver basically just drove them around the block. The teams at the garden get their drivers to listen to the statue before heading off. Rob thinks his driver is high. Now that would be an interesting trip. “He’s just toying with us right now,” Rob says. Because I’m sure he has nothing better to do in the middle of the night. They decide to ditch this cab as well.

Back at the garden, Rob shorts the driver some money and they get another cab. “I’m done talking with foreigners,” Rob says. If you ask me, the foreigners are lucking out in that deal. David & Mary take their driver back to the garden to listen again. Dublyn says the clue doesn’t make any sense. Kandice & Dustin are first to Ben Xe Gia Lam. Zoolander are next but aren’t sure they’re in the right place. Tom & Terry arrive as well, followed by ErGo. Of course, they can’t get a bus until the morning. Dublyn manage to make it next. Rob & Kimberly think they’re last, but they’re actually the next to get to the spot. They share their bad driver story.

At 5 a.m., everyone boards a bus. Tom & Terry are encouraged by the fact that ErGo didn’t do so well in the first two legs but wound up in first place last time. The bus takes the teams to Ha Long Bay, passing some beautiful scenery that Dublyn enjoy. When they arrive, everyone jobs for the clue box, which David & Mary reach first. This clue is a Roadblock for someone with “strong arms and legs.” Phil tells us that one team member will have to ascend a cliff using mechanical ascenders. Tom makes Terry take it. Godwin, Kandice, Rob, and Sarah wind up taking it as well. Sarah says she has arm strength, so she’ll be fine. In the boat to the cliff, she tells Peter that she’s going to be slower than the others, but he tells her that’s fine.