Cycle tour

go to
crazyguyonabike.com and search for Vietnam in the journals section.

I wouldn't bother bringing sleeping gear unless you intend to go to really out of the way places. Firstly, there are lots of theives in Vietnam and you should make sure you are in a town by dusk every day;
secondly, the police definitely do NOT want you camping in their patch and cause them problems by being robbed, or worse;
thirdly, accommodation is so cheap you should take advantage of it and get a good night's sleep;
fourthly, there are still creatures that are happy to eat you out there (refer also point 2 above).

If you are starting from Saigon, you can avoid Highway 1 for most of the trip up to Hue by using back roads along the coast. Google maps and VN road atlas (Tap Ban Do Giao Thong Duong Bo Vietnam) are useful to help you plan your route. You will also need to ask along the way, because neither of these have all the roads. Good luck.
If you get to Nha Trang, I' always happy to meet for a beer.

Thanks buddy big help!
Yeh highway 1 was the worst part of motorbiking so i would love to avoid this at all costs. Does this mean that when i get to Hue i will need to head inland? or be forced to take the Highway?