Vietnam starts Spratly tours

By Kylie Morris
BBC South-East Asia correspondent

Vietnam has sent a boatload of tourists for the first time to the disputed Spratly Islands, despite complaints by neighbouring China.

The Spratlys are claimed by six nations

The archipelago, which amounts to less than 5 sq km of land, is claimed by no fewer than six nations.

The islands, 450km off Vietnam's south-eastern coast, are believed to be rich in oil and natural gas reserves.

Vietnamese tourism officials say the weather there is fine, but the political climate is less than sunny.

Meeting soldiers, passing through an oil field and visiting a former prison might not be everyone's idea of the perfect holiday, but this inaugural trip to the Spratlys has attracted more than 60 Vietnamese tourists.

They set off early on Monday for an eight-day return trip and according to an official on board opened a bottle of champagne to celebrate.

Spratly Islands 100 tiny atolls Spread over 410,000 sq km Believed rich in oil & gas Disputed sovereignty

But not everyone is in a party mood.

China says the Vietnamese tour infringes its territorial sovereignty. The reefs, atolls and small islands which make up the Spratly archipelago are claimed by Vietnam, China, Taiwan, Malaysia, the Philippines and Brunei.

The Asean grouping of South-East Asian Nations has signed a voluntary accord to try to work out the sovereignty of the islands without violence, but that does not rule out strategic tourism.

The move by the Vietnamese follows the construction of a house raised on stilts on one of the islands by Taiwan.

The Philippines and the United States held military exercises uncomfortably close to the disputed territory last month and China has raised temperatures by erecting markers in the area this year.

While the islands may have interesting marine life, their greatest interest is that they straddle vital shipping lanes and are believed to contain vast oil and gas reserves.

Vietnam says if this cruise goes well there will be more chances to explore this unlikely package tour opportunity.