Anh-Tuan "Cao Boi" Bui is a contestant from Survivor: Cook Islands.

Cao Boi gained the ire of his tribemates for his outlandish humor often involving racial stereotypes and overall eccentric behavior. He however introduced the Split Vote strategy in the event a Hidden Immunity Idol was played. Although the plan did not save Cao Boi from being voted out, his strategy would later evolve and become one of the most pivotal aspects for later seasons of Survivor.


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Born in Vietnam, Anh-Tuan "Cao Boi" (pronounced Cowboy) Bui was a Vietnam War refugee when he was 11 years old. He eventually moved to the U.S. and attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. He previously worked as a photographer, used car salesman, fisherman and farm hand. He currently works as a nail salon manager.

Bui's hobbies include bicycling, hiking, sky diving, photography and meditation. He hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2003 and has biked cross-country. He also enjoys playing classical music on his Martin Backpacker guitar.

Bui is the world-record holder in Marathon Softball where he played for 100 hours while serving in the 82nd Airborne Division of the U.S. Army. He is a member of the Loyal Moose Lodge #1470 in Christiansburg, Virginia, 82nd Airborne Division Association, Boy Scouts of America and Cub Scouts of Vietnam.

Bui is married to Kristol Bond and has two children, Jesse Dakota and Nicholas Roundtree. He has one dog, Charlie Woof, which he brought back from Vietnam when he visited in 2003. He also has two cats, Minki and Pinki. He currently resides in Christiansburg, Virginia. His birth date is April 10, 1964.[1]


Cao Boi was a member of the Puka Puka tribe, consisting of all Asian-American members. Cao Boi was the immediate outcast of his tribe due to his eccentric behavior, such as making many racist jokes, much to the ire of his tribemates. However, Cao Boi proved to be highly intelligent, as he was able to cure tribe mate Brad Virata's headache through a very unique method of "pulling the pain" out via a dot on the forehead. Cao Boi would avoid Tribal Council as the Puka Puka tribe won the first two Immunity Challenges.

On Day 7, Cao Boi was chosen by Ozzy Lusth to join the new Aitutaki tribe. Cao Boi annoyed his new tribemates with his strange demeanor, but still managed to join the alliance of Cecilia Mansilla, Jessica Smith, Ozzy Lusth, and Sundra Oakley. Their alliance wanted to target Becky Lee if they should ever visit Tribal Council. After Aitutaki lost the Immunity Challenge, this plan was put into action. However, lobbying from Jonathan Penner and Yul Kwon caused Cao Boi and Jessica to change their votes and vote off Cecilia.

Aitutaki lost the following Reward Challenge but was able to win the next three challenges. During this time off success however, Cao Boi once again caused controversy for attempting to slaughter a newly hatched booby, though he was convinced to return the chick to its nest.

A double Tribal Council on Day 15 forced Aitutaki to vote one of their own, where Cao Boi claimed to Yul he had a plan he conceived through a dream which he called "Plan Voodoo", a plot where the tribe were split six votes between Candice Woodcock and Jonathan to flush out the Hidden Immunity Idol and avoid a possible "Whites Alliance". However, Yul, the actual holder of the idol, felt threatened by Cao Boi and turned the alliance on him, blindsiding him in a 6-1-1 vote.

Voting History

Cao Boi's Voting History
Episode Cao Boi's
Voted Against
Cao Boi
1 Puka Puka Tribe Immune
2 Puka Puka Tribe Immune
3 Cecilia -
4 Aitutaki Tribe Immune
5 Aitutaki Tribe Immune
6 Candice Becky, Candice, Jonathan,
Ozzy, Sundra, Yul
Voted Out, Day 15




  • Cao Boi was the oldest member of Puka Puka.
  • Cao Boi is the only member of Puka Puka to not make the jury phase of the game. Brad and Jenny were on the jury, while Yul and Becky made it to the Final Three.

