Just thought i'd let you know that the12 hr bus was fine.. we both managed to have a good kip despite being near the back (though if you have long legs i suggest you get the back seat with no one in front as they normally put the seats right back). They give you a small bottle of water and a blanket (though earplugs would be better cos everyone seems to take the 12 hr bus ride as a chance to listen to their ringtones) you stop a few times and we jumped off before Hue as you also stop at Dong Ha (this is where the Demilitarized zone is with all the tunnels etc, pretty spooky), i'm not sure if i enjoyed it as we were on motorbikes in the pooring rain, we paid $10 each for the 4 hr trip plus a further $2 for a cramped minibus into Hue (there were 16 of us in it!!). You can get a cheaper deal by going to Hue however by doing what we did you save yourselves three trips of one and a half hours each. I think if i were you try haggling with the fellow at the truck stop (mr Binh) and go on the bus tour as the bikes (though fun) leave you soaked and sore, Hope to catch up with you along the way, we're only staying one night in Hue ,Found a hotel called "Hong Thien Hotel"(46 Chu Van An Street number) there are two of them (the second is called Hong Thien Hotel 2), we're paying $7 dollars the night (111,000 dong) and we have a bath and double bed.. Loving it.. it's also quite central (if you have lonely planet then it's near number 39 "a dong hotel"). Have a gooden Matt