Locals marked the Chinese New Year with a red lion dance at a market in Thailand.

Footage shows performers donning a traditional Chinese lion costume and dancing at the Bang Lamphu Market in Khon Kaen province, on January 27. A lively dragon dance was also held, with dancers waving around a sinuous dragon puppet on poles.

The performances are believed to ward off bad luck and attract good fortune for the coming year.

The local market was decked in red and gold stalls and lanterns - both auspicious colours in Chinese culture - as vendors sold delicacies like roast ducks, dimsum, and sticky rice cakes.

Market manager Aryanee Niampradit said: 'The atmosphere this year is lively as the people of Khon Kaen turned up in large numbers. Although the prices of goods has risen since last year, the vendors still kept their prices low for the customers.'

This year's Chinese New Year falls on January 29, festivities in Thailand have started days in advance.

Thailand has one of the largest overseas Chinese communities in the world as ethnic Chinese migrants fled to Southeast Asia to escape war and famine in southern China in the early to mid 20th century.

A chunk of the population in Thailand today is ethnically Chinese or has a Chinese ancestral heritage and the community has integrated Chinese culture into Thai society.