GUANLEI, Yunnan - Dozens of Chinese sailors returned home Sunday afternoon under the escort of a Chinese patrol ship after being stranded in northern Thailand following a cargo ship attack last week.

Chinese sailors receive flowers as they return from Thailand at Guanlei Port in Southwest China's Yunnan province, Oct 16, 2011. A total of 11 cargo boats with 78 sailors on board returned to China Sunday afternoon due to safety concerns, the first of the group of 164 sailors that have been stranded in Thailand. The rest are aboard ships bound for Guanlei Port, and will arrive shortly. [Photo/Xinhua]

A total of 11 cargo boats with 78 sailors on board began sailing into the Guanlei Port in the southern province of Yunnan at around 3:40 pm.

Out of safety concerns, 164 sailors had been living aboard 26 ships on the Mekong River in Chiang Saen since the attack.

Twelve Chinese sailors were confirmed dead and one missing after two cargo ships, the Hua Ping and Yu Xing 8, were attacked and hijacked by an unknown group of armed men on October 5 on the Mekong River.

The other 15 ships are heading to the Guanlei Port and will arrive there later.