HANOI, Vietnam (Reuters) -- Vietnam will send its first-ever group of tourists to the Spratlys islands next month in a move aimed at reaffirming sovereignty over the disputed archipelago in the South China Sea, a local official said on Wednesday.

The Spratlys, a cluster of dozens of submerged islets, rocks and reefs in an area believed rich in oil and natural gas, are claimed in whole or in part by China, Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam.
"The first tour is planned for the middle of next month and aimed at reaffirming the sovereignty of Vietnam," said Do Nhu Phu, People's Committee chairman of the Truong Sa (Spratlys) Island district off the central province of Khanh Hoa.
"People could see several locations related to Vietnam's positioning on the island as well as oil exploration work."

He gave no further details of the tour, but said it was to be operated by a military-run company.
Last October, the government assigned the defensce ministry and the tourism administration to organizse tours on a trial basis to the Spratlys, 250 nautical miles east of Khanh Hoa's shore.
Vietnam and China both claim the Spratlys in their entirety.

Their rival claims are often an irritant in relations between the communist neighbors and historic foes.
No tourists have so far visited the Spratlys, where Vietnam maintains a military and civilian presence.
Local officials say it takes two days to travel there by boat. ( *CNN.Com)