Anulak Heuan Lao. Unique Lao Properties. Vientiane.

The keen observer wandering the older districts of Vientiane can still find lovely architectural reflections of the country's rich history hidden in quiet streets or tucked away behind new high rise buildings. Unfortunately each year many interesting and sometimes historic structures are lost to neglect and economic necessity. Vientiane has laws intended to prevent loss of these buildings, but laws are hard to enforce in times of rapid economic growth and land speculation.

Unique Lao Properties or Bolisat Anulak Heuan Lao Jumgaht in Lao (AHL for short) was founded in 2002 to help families retain ownership of their irreplaceable buildings through a long-term cost-sharing program. AHL renovates properties and then rents them to expats who appreciate our designs. We share the profits with the owners but still make enough profit to start new projects and our investors get satisfactory returns.

AHL tenants live in some of the most beautiful and interesting rental houses and serviced apartments in the city! Imagine a modern apartment in a beautifully restored building, full of custom designed furniture, in the most convenient downtown location. What could be better? That would be knowing at the same time you are helping to preserve the beauty of Vientiane.

We know of no other program like ours anywhere.

The links below lead to our project portfolio, possible new buildings to add to the program, and lost gems. For more detail and photos, click the photo or the link at the left. See Vacancies for more information on rentals.

Click Cercle des Officiers to view the appeal for help saving what is probably the last French military building in Vientiane - the old Officer's Club.

	AHL's First Project 2002-2009. House 110 Vat Chan Street Chantabouly District, Vientiane, was built by the family of an AHL partner about 100 years ago. In 2009 the family was forced to sell it to pay for health care costs in the extended family. AHL wanted to buy the property but could not find a mortgage lender. We were thrilled to find that the new owners loved the house too and said they wanted to keep it intact, but in 2012 we were devastated to find that a local hotel had given the family hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash for a long-term lease on the property. The building was quickly demolished at the end of 2012.
	House 029 Anou District, 2011-2023. AHL signed the lease for this property in July 2011 after 5 years of negotiations! The property has two structures - a one and a half storey older house in front and a 1970s two storey cement building in back. We see three apartments. The front building will have a upstairs loft for sleeping and the two back apartments will be three rooms each. Anou is one of the central districts of Vientiane and these apartments will be perfect for singles and couples who enjoy the local night life.
	House 11 Hong Kha Dai District, 2009-2019. AHL acquired the lease for this tall wooden building in November 2009 but we did not have the cash to develop it till 2010. It is almost finished and we are using the upstairs as our office. Downstairs is a newly constructed one bedroom apartment. Open for occupancy next week!
	House 120, 2008-2018, is the third AHL lease on Vat Chan Street in historic Chantabouly District, right downtown. House 120 was built by a branch of the Souvanivong family about 100 years ago. Four generations of family women were present at the lease signing 18 January 2008. Mme. Sop died in 2014 at the age of 80. We have divided it into two apartments, each with a new kitchen and two bathrooms.
	House 109, Vat Chan Street Chantabouly District, 2003-2013. Built in the 1950s as a single family house, it was extended in the 1970s to accommodate a business and warehouse. AHL acquired the lease in 2003 and remodeled the building into 3 apartments. In 2014 the building reverted to the owner who relet it to a development company who destroyed it in order to make it into a boutique hotel.
	House 145 Sisawat Center Street, Sisawat District, 2005-2015. The house was built in the 1960s. It was added to the AHL portfolio in 2005. Renovation took about 12 months.
	House 156 Doong Na Sok Road, Nong Duang District, 2006-2021, was built in the 1970s. This large and impressive structure was added to the AHL portfolio in 2006 and returned to the owner in 2014.
	House 77, in a small lane off Doong Na Sok Road, Nong Doang, 2006-2021, is a small bungalow without particular historical significance, but it is unusual in that it is a box with not one square corner! House 77 was added to the AHL portfolio in 2006 as a bonus with House 156. It proved to be quite a challenge to upgrade, but the result has surprised us with its coziness and charm. House 77 was returned to the owner in 2014.
	Where is the next project? AHL is constantly looking for new properties to bring into our program. Here are some photos of a few that are especially promising. The biggest problem the company faces in acquiring new leases is finding the cash to help the owners relocate.
	Lost and mostly forgotten. Here are some photos of classic Vientiane buildings that have been lost in the past few years. We will add to this gallery as we find photos of these lost gems.