Prime Minister John Key leaves New Zealand on Saturday to visit South Korea, China and Vietnam.
It will be Mr Key's first visit to Vietnam and South Korea, and his second to China.
He says the trip is designed to cement New Zealand's strong relationship with the Asia region.
Mr Key says while in South Korea he will hold discuss the current free trade negotiations with President Lee Myung-bak.
The visit coincides with the 60th anniversary of the start of the Korean War, which Mr Key will commemorate with a visit to the War Memorial in Seoul for a wreath-laying ceremony.
