This elegant stupa (that) comprises a stepped hexagonal base and a rounded upper section crowned by a lotus bud and spire. It is generally thought that the stupa was built prior to the 15C. According to legend, it houses a seven-headed naga, a sacred serpent that protects Buddhism and the city. It is also said that it was once covered in gold that the Siamese are said to have stolen when they pillaged Vientiane in 1827.