Mai Van Dau has been charged with 'abuse of power'

He is the most senior official caught up in the scandal, which involved the selling of export quotas to Vietnamese garment makers.

Mr Dau, 62, was charged with "abuse of power", according to the official Vietnam News Agency.

His son, Mai Thanh Hai, was arrested in September in connection with the same case.

At least 12 other officials and businessmen are also under detention.

Local media has reported that the officials solicited large kickbacks from Vietnamese textile and garment makers in return for approval to export to the US.

Textiles are Vietnam's second largest export earner, with most of the income coming from exports to the US.

However, a BBC correspondent says the industry has recently slumped to almost crisis-point, after the arrests of the officials charged with quota allocations.