A dozen or so active pagodas follow one another on either side of the avenue, several of which were built by Setthathirath, the first king of Vientiane. However, all of them feature the characteristic elements of a typical Lao vat: a drum tower, library, colourful frescoes relating stories from the life of the Buddha, kuti (monks' quarters), and funerary stupas. The most beautiful pagodas are considered to be Vat Inpeng, Vat Ongteu, Vat Haisok and Vat Mixay.