VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese fishermen who were held by Australian sea police for nearly three months arrived at Tan Son Nhat Airport, Ho Chi Minh City, on Tuesday.

Fishing boats of Quang Ngai's people.

From early morning, the authorities of Quang Ngai Province and dozens of families were present at Tan Son Nhat to welcome home the 60 fishermen returning from Australia. By 1:30pm, the Australian side had completed the handover procedures.

The fishermen, sailing on four fishing vessels out of Binh Chau Commune, Binh Son District, in Quang Ngai Province, went out to sea nearly three months ago and then lost contact with their families.

Mr. Le Dang Khoa, an official from Binh Son District, says that of the 60 fishermen, 42 are from Quang Ngai and the rest are from the central provinces of Khanh Hoa and Binh Thuan.

"Immediately after the handover ceremony, we took the fishermen back home. Currently they are in good health. Thanks to the intervention of the Consulate General of Vietnam in Australia, they did not have to pay fines," he says.

The fishermen say that they got lost and entered the Australian waters inadvertently.

Quang Ngai authorities are investigating the case and hope to take measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Mac Sau