According to local legend, this historic stupa - the name of which means ‘last’ or ‘late’ - was built in the 16th century by members of the Phuan ethnic group who were at that time travelling south to Vientiane with materials and valuables for the construction of Phra That Luang in Vientiane city. However, their convoy of seven elephants lost its way in Muang Thourakhom on the opposite bank of the Nam Ngum River from Viengkham, and after hearing unearthly sounds emanating from nearby, the party decided that this was an auspicious omen - and since they were already too late to reach Vientiane in time to contribute to the construction of Phra That Luang, they decided instead to build their own stupa on the spot. The stupa has been renovated on several occasions over the centuries and the wat in whose grounds it now stands is of very recent construction. However, in nearby Ban Nala - the name of which refers to their arrival 'with nothing' - the same group of 16th-century Phuan settlers are said to have gone on to create a large seated Buddha image from local clay. Monks at Wat Nala claim that the principal image in their sim is this original statue, albeit heavily painted. The same settlers are also said to have established three wats in Ban Lingxan, two of which - Wat Anonthalam Manotham and Wat Sayasathanh - are still excellent examples of early Lao temple architecture. That Mala is located in Ban That Mala, several kilometres west of the main road from Muang Thourakhom to Vientiane city, some 60 kilometres north of the capital. NB since the site is located on the east bank of the Nam Ngum River, it is accessible from the provincial urban and administrative centres of Muang Phonhong and Muang Viengkham only by car ferry.