Hosted by Phil Keoghan, it featured eleven teams of two, each with a pre-existing relationship, competing in a race around the world in order to win US$1,000,000.
Starting in Los Angeles, racers traveled through French Polynesia, New Zealand, Indonesia, Vietnam, Botswana, Switzerland, Germany, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and England before returning to the United States and finishing in the National Capital Region.
Though Dave and Connor traveled to Hanoi, Vietnam, with the remaining teams, they did not participate in any tasks in that leg; instead, they went directly to the Pit Stop to be formally eliminated.
The final episode was dedicated to David Gene Gibbs, a member of the camera crew, who died in a helicopter crash while filming a series for Discovery Channel.
[10] Dave & Connor, Caroline & Jennifer, Jessica & John, and Joey & Meghan returned in The Amazing Race: All-Stars.
"[17] Michael Hewitt of the Orange County Register was positive during the early part of the season but negative towards the end saying that the disappointing finish was "spoiling what had been a competitive revival for the show.
Complaints came in from sources such as the national commanders of the American Legion[21] and VFW,[22] and Democratic strategist and Fox News pundit Bob Beckel also spoke of his disgust at the program's choices.
later reported on comments from viewers found on Twitter whose complaints ranged from threatening to no longer watch the series or statements that the episode was "strange" or "disrespectful to Americans killed [in Vietnam]".
The message, read by host Phil Keoghan, stated: "Parts of last Sunday's episode, filmed in Vietnam, were insensitive to a group that is very important to us – our nation's veterans.