The bodies of 16 of the 39 Vietnamese who died when human traffickers carried them by lorry to the UK last month were repatriated to their homeland on Wednesday and have been taken to their families.

The bodies arrived on a flight that landed in Hanoi, the news website VNExpress reported.

The website published photos of ambulances that transported the bodies to their home provinces south of Hanoi.

The bodies were found on 23 October in Essex.

Police say the victims were aged between 15 and 44.

39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex Show all 15 1 /15 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex Thirty-nine bodies have been found in a lorry container in Essex, police have said PA 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex The discovery of 38 adults and one teenager was made at an industrial estate in Thurrock Reuter TV 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex Police said they believed the lorry had come from Bulgaria and entered the UK at Holyhead, in Wales, on Saturday. Getty 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex Essex Police said it had launched a murder investigation after its officers were called to Waterglade Industrial Park, in Grays, in the early hours of Wednesday morning Reuter TV 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex A 25-year-old-man from Northern Ireland has been arrested on suspicion of murder PA 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex In a statement, Chief Superintendent Andrew Mariner said: “This is a tragic incident where a large number of people have lost their lives. Our enquiries are ongoing to establish what has happened. “We are in the process of identifying the victims, however I anticipate that this could be a lengthy process. Reuter TV 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex THURROCK, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 23: Police stand near the site where 39 bodies were discovered in the back of a lorry on October 23, 2019 in Thurrock, England. The lorry was discovered early Wednesday morning in Waterglade Industrial Park on Eastern Avenue in the town of Grays. Authorities said they believed the lorry originated in Bulgaria and entered the country at Holyhead on October 19. The suspected driver was arrested in connection with the investigation. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images) Leon Neal Getty 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex THURROCK, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 23: A Police forensic investigation team are parked near the site where 39 bodies were discovered in the back of a lorry on October 23, 2019 in Thurrock, England. The lorry was discovered early Wednesday morning in Waterglade Industrial Park on Eastern Avenue in the town of Grays. Authorities said they believed the lorry originated in Bulgaria and entered the country at Holyhead on October 19. The suspected driver was arrested in connection with the investigation. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images) Leon Neal Getty 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex Police activity at the Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays, Essex, after 39 bodies were found inside a lorry container on the industrial estate. PA Photo. Picture date: Wednesday October 23, 2019. Early indications suggest there 38 are adults and one teenager, police said. The lorry is from Bulgaria and entered the country at Holyhead, North Wales, one of the main port for ferries from Ireland. See PA story POLICE Container. Photo credit should read: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire Stefan Rousseau PA 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex THURROCK, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 23: A Police forensic investigation team are parked near the site where 39 bodies were discovered in the back of a lorry on October 23, 2019 in Thurrock, England. The lorry was discovered early Wednesday morning in Waterglade Industrial Park on Eastern Avenue in the town of Grays. Authorities said they believed the lorry originated in Bulgaria and entered the country at Holyhead on October 19. The suspected driver was arrested in connection with the investigation. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images) Leon Neal Getty 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex Thurrock deaths: 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex Reuter TV Reuter TV 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex Police activity at the Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays, Essex, after 39 bodies were found inside a lorry container on the industrial estate. PA Photo. Picture date: Wednesday October 23, 2019. Early indications suggest there 38 are adults and one teenager, police said. The lorry is from Bulgaria and entered the country at Holyhead, North Wales, one of the main port for ferries from Ireland. See PA story POLICE Container. Photo credit should read: Aaron Chown/PA Wire Aaron Chown PA 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex Police cordon at the road leading to the Waterglade Industrial Park in Grays, Essex, after 39 bodies were found inside a lorry container on the industrial estate. PA Photo. Picture date: Wednesday October 23, 2019. Early indications suggest there 38 are adults and one teenager, police said. The lorry is from Bulgaria and entered the country at Holyhead, North Wales, one of the main port for ferries from Ireland. See PA story POLICE Container. Photo credit should read: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire Stefan Rousseau PA 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex Police officers are seen at the scene where bodies were discovered in a lorry container, in Grays, Essex, Britain October 23, 2019. REUTERS/Hannah McKay HANNAH MCKAY Reuters 39 bodies found in lorry container in Essex Police officers are seen at the scene where bodies were discovered in a lorry container, in Grays, Essex, Britain October 23, 2019. REUTERS/Hannah McKay HANNAH MCKAY Reuters

The 31 men and eight women are believed to have paid human traffickers for their clandestine transit into the UK.

Several suspects have been arrested in the UK and Vietnam.

Hoang Lanh, father of 18-year-old victim Hoang Van Tiep, said by phone that he had been informed by a local government official that his son's remains would be brought home Wednesday, along with those of six other victims from Dien Chau district in Nghe An province, including Mr Tiep's cousin Nguyen Van Hung.

“It's bittersweet, I can't believe I would have to welcome my son back like this,” Mr Lanh said.

“I'm devastated but I am happy to have him back with us soon.”

Hoang Thi Nhiem, Mr Tiep's sister, said her family had received her brother's body shortly before noon.

“We are very sad, but we are happy now that he has been brought back to the place where he was born to be with his family and surrounded with love from the family,” she said.

Anna Hoang Thi Ai, mother of Hoang Van Tiep, cries next to his body in Nghe An province (Reuters)

“He would not be able to rest in peace if he had still been in England.”

Another victim's family expressed their sadness ahead of receiving the bodies of their loved one.

“I have been sad for a month and I can't eat anything,” said Nguyen Thanh Le, father of 33-year-old Nguyen Van Hung.

A relative of Hoang Van Tiep lights a candle on his coffin (Reuters)

“My son died far away from his home and I had to wait for a long time, but today his body is coming back and tomorrow is the funeral.”

Legal proceedings in the case are continuing in the UK.

A lorry driver who allegedly was the driver of the vehicle in which the 39 bodies were found pleaded guilty to plotting with others to assist illegal immigration and acquiring criminal property.

Irish truck driver Maurice Robinson accused of being part of an international people-smuggling ring, was not asked to enter pleas to 39 counts of manslaughter and conspiracy to traffic people.

Police say he drove the cab of the vehicle to the port of Purfleet, where it picked up the container, which had arrived by ferry from the port of Zeebrugge in Belgium.

Police have also said they had arrested a 36-year-old man on suspicion of manslaughter, conspiracy to traffic people and conspiracy to assist unlawful immigration.

Two other men have been arrested in connection with the case.