PM in Hanoi: expected to express solidarity with France

Mr Key was still intending to attending the COP21 climate change summit in Paris next month. Photo / Getty

Prime Minister John Key landed in Hanoi last night for a two-day visit to Vietnam but the terrorist attacks in Paris may prove a significant distraction.

Mr Key and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung will lay a wreath this afternoon, NZ time, at the Monument for National Heroes and at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum.

They will then hold bilateral talks and a press conference where they are expected to express solidarity with France.

Mr Key found about the attacks before the New Zealand Air Force Boeing refuelled in Darwin and said it was important to stand up to terrorism.

"We have to stand up to these terrorists because they know absolutely no bounds when it comes to humanity."

His daughter Stephanie who lives and studies in Paris was at a shopping mall until she received an alert from Mr Key's wife, Bronagh, to get home quickly.

Mr Key was still intending to attending the COP21 climate change summit in Paris next month.

"It's a huge international conference and I think they'll want to demonstration is returning to as much normality as much as it possibly can so at this stage it is still intention to go."

Economic Development Minister Steven is also on the trip to Vietnam with an education and aviation-focused trade delegation.

Air New Zealand announced last week it will begin three flights a week to Ho Chi Minh City from June next year.

Former Prime Minister Jim Bolger is part of the delegation as Chancellor of Waikato University as are representatives from AUT, Massey and Victoria University.

Prime Minister Dung visited New Zealand in March where he and Mr Key committed to doubling the two-way $1 billion trade by 2020.

- Audrey Young in Hanoi