Image copyright BBC Vietnamese Image caption Nguyen Quang Lap is seen as a mainstream figure in Vietnamese literature

An award-winning Vietnamese writer has been arrested, reportedly for publishing criticism of the Communist government on his blog.

Nguyen Quang Lap was taken into custody after police searched his home in the city of Ho Chi Minh on Saturday.

His wife and his brother said police had accused him of publishing articles that went against the authorities.

Mr Lap is the second prominent blogger to have been detained recently, in an apparently renewed attack on dissent.

Last week, police in Ho Chi Minh took blogger Hong Le Tho, 65, into custody on charges of anti-state activity.

Unlike many bloggers detained in the past, Mr Lap is part of the mainstream of Vietnamese literature, regularly appearing on state media and winning state-backed prizes.

Image copyright AFP Image caption The Communist party maintains close control over Vietnam's media

His blog serves as a platform where he and his friends express sometimes critical views about Vietnam.

The one-party state is often criticised by rights groups for its intolerance of dissent.

Protests are rare in Vietnam and the mainstream media are state-run and heavily regulated.

However, the internet has emerged as a forum for criticising the authorities.

The press freedom group, Reporters without Borders, says Vietnam has 34 bloggers in prison.