The differences in the environments which Mongols and other Nations’ face have created completely different lifestyles in the countries, and the ethnic social customs which have been handed down for generations are inevitably rooted in these patterns. The most typical aspects of Mongolian life are its tradition of nomadism and the country's portable housing, tents called gers, which accommodates this way of life.

Although the number of gers in big cities has gradually decreased as the country has become industrialized, a movement to revive previously suppressed traditional customs, which has emerged since democracy has gained strength, has led Mongolians to reevaluate and reprise this traditional mode of housing. In what can be considered an inevitable outcome of the housing shortage, gers are being assembled in every available space between modern high-rise apartment buildings even in Ulaanbaatar, the country's capital. The increased use of this type of housing, however, can also be seen as the effect of the simple assembly and considerable comfort afforded by gers.

Refer to the illustration for further details on ger layout and assembly.

Assembling a Ger
The roof pole is inserted through the skylight, and the han (a folding, lattice-type wall) is secured in place by rope.
The lattice wall is wrapped in felt.
The felt is completely covered in white cloth, and smoke is directed out of a pipe at the top which acts as a chimney.
Front view of inside of a ger.