The heat and humidity were brutal the two weeks I was visiting Ho Chi Minh (high's around 95F with 90% humidity). I really wanted to get this run done, so decided to go in the evening when shops were open to buy more water versus early morning when there wasn't as much traffic. I set out right at sunset and tried to cross the main bridge to get to the North side of the canal, but there was an insane amount of traffic and the sidewalk was closed for construction. I ran the S. Canal for to the next bridge then crossed over. From there on out it was a constant game of dodging walkers, joggers, scooters, cars, trains and holes in the sidewalk. Since no one respects traffic lights in Saigon, each road crossing was a game of Russian Roulette. By the time I came to the end of the canal on the North Side, I decided to run back on the South side since it was well lit, less construction on the sidewalk, less traffic and less homeless encampments. Before heading back, I stopped at the Lotteria on the corner to run to the bathroom and grab some water (10,000 VND). Also a heads-up, the only public rest room is on the South Side of the Canal at the half-way point.
The south side ran much smoother than the north with less stop & go moments to cross the road. All in all, it's a beautiful run and I hope to come back and do it again sometime when the heat and humidity isn't as brutal!