You ever watch a reality show and see a team that just feels like a "hot mess express" until they suddenly aren't? That was the vibe for The Amazing Race Han and Holden during Season 37. Honestly, if you caught the first few episodes, you probably wouldn't have bet a single dime on them making it past the first three legs. They were consistently trailing in the back half of the pack, looking like they were one bad U-turn away from a plane ticket home to Los Gatos.
But then, something shifted.
Han Nguyen, the 26-year-old Brown alum, and her younger brother Holden, a 22-year-old Stanford student, turned out to be one of the most resilient teams the show has seen in years. They didn't just survive; they clawed their way into the final three. While they didn't take home the million dollars—that honor went to the gamers, Carson and Jack—their second-place finish was a shocker to anyone who saw their rocky start in Hong Kong and Japan.
The Rocky Start and the Non-Elimination Miracle
When the race kicked off, things were… well, they were rough. Han and Holden, or "Team Asian Swag" as they called themselves, struggled with the very thing that usually kills teams early: communication. You've got Han, who has been vocal about her struggles with anxiety and a deep-seated need for perfectionism, clashing with Holden’s more rigid, military-boarding-school-disciplined background.
In the second leg in Japan, they were a disaster. They finished 11th out of 12 teams. By the time they hit the third leg in Kyoto, they were starting over 90 minutes behind everyone else. In most seasons, that's a death sentence. You can't usually make up that kind of time unless someone else gets catastrophically lost. They managed to survive that leg in 9th place, but only by the skin of their teeth.
The real turning point? The non-elimination leg. They were actually the first team saved by an official non-elimination leg since way back in Season 33. Some fans on Reddit and Twitter were salty about it, claiming they "didn't deserve" to stay, but the rules are the rules. They took that second chance and basically went into beast mode.
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Why the Sibling Dynamic Was Their Secret Weapon
It’s interesting because they hadn't actually spent much time together growing up. Between Holden being away at school and Han being on the East Coast for college, they were basically strangers with the same parents. That lack of history meant they had to learn how to work together in real-time, under the pressure of a global race.
Han's Perfectionism vs. Holden's Youth
Han has talked a lot in interviews about the pressure of being the eldest daughter in a Vietnamese-American household. She wanted everything to be perfect. On The Amazing Race, perfection is the enemy of "done."
Holden, on the other hand, made history as the first male contestant born in the 21st century. He was literally born on the day the second episode of The Amazing Race Season 2 premiered. Talk about a full-circle moment. Being 22 meant he had the stamina, but as Han noted, they lacked the "wisdom" that older teams have. They made impulsive decisions. They got stressed. But they also had a weird, academic way of solving puzzles—relying on their backgrounds in international relations and symbolic systems—that helped them bridge the gap.
The Dubai Breakthrough
If you want to pinpoint exactly when The Amazing Race Han and Holden became real contenders, look at the Dubai leg. They finished 2nd. For a team that had been living in the 9th and 11th place slots, this was huge. Han said that leg was the first time they felt "powerful" because they finally got their act together.
They weren't just the kids anymore; they were threats.
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They avoided the typical pitfalls of the middle legs, navigating Bulgaria and Italy with a new sense of confidence. Even when they were stressed, they started to trust each other. Han realized she didn't have to be perfect; she just had to be "good enough" to beat the team behind her.
What Really Happened in the Finale?
The final leg in Miami was a total scramble. It was Han and Holden vs. Carson and Jack vs. Jonathan and Ana. Most of the leg was spent chasing the gamers, who were incredibly efficient.
There were two major things that kept Han and Holden from the win:
- The Flyboard Challenge: Han has surfing skills, but they didn't translate to the flyboard as well as she hoped. It took longer than expected, allowing Carson and Jack to maintain their lead.
- The Fender Bender: While driving in Miami, Han accidentally bumped into another car. In the heat of the race, a car accident is a nightmare. It cost them precious time dealing with the logistics and the stress of the situation.
Even with those setbacks, they still beat out Jonathan and Ana to take the runner-up spot. Crossing that finish line in 2nd place without ever winning a single individual leg is a rare feat—the first time it’s happened since Season 29.
The Aftermath: Life After the Mat
So, what are they doing now? Han has been using her platform to talk about identity and mental health, specifically the "squiggly path" of life rather than the linear one. She’s active on her Substack, Hanfire, and has been a voice for Vietnamese-American representation.
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Holden went back to Stanford to finish his degree. He’s still involved in the student radio station and his podcast. They both seem way closer now than they ever were before the show. They proved that even if you start the race an hour behind and spend half the time bickering, you can still make it to the end if you’re tenacious enough.
What You Should Do Next
If you're looking to apply for the next season or just want to up your own travel game, take a page out of the Han and Holden playbook:
- Focus on the "Good Enough": If you're a perfectionist, realize that speed often beats precision in high-pressure situations.
- Practice Self-Driving: Most teams in Season 37 struggled with manual transmissions and navigation. If you're planning a trip to Europe or Asia, learn to drive a stick shift before you go.
- Strengthen Your Communication: If you're traveling with a sibling or partner, establish "stress protocols." Decide beforehand who handles the map and who handles the physical tasks to avoid those mid-race meltdowns.
Han and Holden might not have the million-dollar check, but they definitely won the "most improved" award for the season. Not bad for a couple of kids from Los Gatos.