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Vietnam will make it easier for Chinese tourists to travel all over Vietnam, ending a restriction that has confined many of them to seven northern areas.

From next week, Chinese tourists who arrive with traveller's passes at land borders or on ships on package tours would be allowed to visit any of Vietnam's 64 provinces, the Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper said.

Vietnam has eased restrictions for visitors from a number of countries to promote tourism. It has waived visas for tourists from Japan, South Korea and several South-east Asian countries.

The newspaper gave no reason for the easing of restrictions on China, the largest source of visitors to Vietnam, and did not say how many visitors would be affected.

Hanoi and Beijing have had a tense history for 2,000 years, including border clashes, but the two communist states have increased economic and political cooperation in recent years.

Since 1998, Vietnam has allowed visitors from its giant neighbour with a traveller's pass to tour seven provinces and cities in its northern region.

Chinese tourists need a permit from their government to visit Vietnam. They can then get a traveller's pass from Vietnam, removing the need to carry a passport.

The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism said 519,808 Chinese tourists visited Vietnam in the first eight months of this year, up 39 per cent from the same period last year.

Meanwhile, a Hong Kong-based company would build a golf resort near one of Vietnam's main border checkpoints with China, said a senior Quang Ninh province official.

Construction of the US$36-million (S$61-million) 18-hole course and five-star hotel and villa complex in Mong Cai is scheduled to begin early next year.