Nam Cam, more formally known as Truong Van Cam, has been charged with seven counts including murder, gambling and harbouring fugitives. He faces death by firing squad if convicted.

His co-defendants include two expelled members of the Communist Party's powerful Central Committee, 13 senior police officers, three former prosecutors and three state journalists.

Nam Cam Once seen as one of Vietnam's most powerful figures Alleged to have killed rival gang boss Dung Ha 55-year-old father of eight Vietnam's Godfather

The BBC's Vietnam correspondent, Clare Arthurs, said 55-year-old Nam Cam looked ageing, gaunt and grey as he stood in the dock listening to the presiding judge, Byi Hoang Danh, read the charges against him.

Wearing green and white-striped prison pyjamas, Nam Cam was led to the front of the court with some of the other accused to describe his background and past criminal convictions.

"In the past I was a dock worker and before my arrest I worked in the restaurant business," he said.

Showcase trial

The trial, being held in a freshly painted courtroom in the 19th Century People's Court in Ho Chi Minh City, is the one of the largest to ever reach the Vietnam courts.

There are three judges on the case, a jury of three, 80 lawyers and 30 witnesses.

Those on trial include Nam Cam's first wife, Phan Thi Truc, as well as his son, daughter, son-in-law and cousin.

I wanted to come here myself to soak up the atmosphere and witness this unique event Nguyen Hoang Anh, bystander

It took about an hour for the charges to be read for all of the defendants. Together they face more than 20 different charges, ranging from murder to revealing state secrets.

TV screens were erected outside the court to allow the reading of the charges to be witnessed by defence lawyers and journalists.

Foreign correspondents have also been granted rare access, although only to the opening and closing days.

Huge interest

The case has attracted huge interest in Vietnam, and a crowd of about 500 people waited outside the People's Court on Tuesday morning for their chance to see the infamous mafia boss.

"I was here very early to make sure I had a glimpse of Nam Cam," said local man Nguyen Van Kim, who arrived outside the court early on Tuesday morning.

"I will come here all 55 days (of the trial). I think he will be sentenced to death," he said.

Those following the case outside Vietnam say it could have wide implications for the country as a whole.

"The Nam Cam trial involves institutional corruption of a very serious nature," said Carl Thayer, a Vietnamese expert at the Australian Defence Force Academy.

He said the trial was a positive indication that the Communist Party was serious about cracking down on corruption.

The party has already acknowledged that public impatience with corruption could threaten its power, and has vowed to punish the guilty, "regardless of social status".