A cool-headed devotee kept praying even as a venomous snake slithered on her shoulders in Thailand.

Footage shows the calm lady focused in prayer as an Oriental whip snake draped itself across her back at the Khao Tham Rat temple in Chachoengsao province on November 6.

The snake then sidled over to an elderly woman next to her, raising its head to climb onto her back as she was bowing.

Onlooker Kanyarat Som-asa said she had accompanied her mum to worship at the temple that day when she saw the reptile creeping up on the faithful in front of the shrine.

She said: 'At first, I thought it would just move past them, but then it crept on my mum's back. She told me she was shocked, but didn't dare hurt the snake or run away. A monk behind us also kept telling her to stay calm.'

The snake, which was identified as an Asian vine snake or Oriental whip snake, eventually left the temple without biting anyone.

The Oriental whip snake is a slender and mildly venomous snake found in Southeast Asia. It is known for its long, whip-like body, with a pointed snout projecting from its face.