I know most homes within a village had fires and kitchens at the center, especially being considered the most important/sacred part of the homes. But as I’m researching and looking at pictures, I don’t see any evidence of chimneys or other rooftop ventilation to let out smoke and such. Am I missing something or is it much more simple by just letting the window open to air it out? Thanks in advance.
But as I’m researching and looking at pictures, I don’t see any evidence of chimneys or other rooftop ventilation to let out smoke and such.
The roof space is typically well-ventilated, with the gables and often the eaves being open lattice rather than solid. This means that smoke will be somewhat trapped, but can escape. The smoke being somewhat trapped is at least partly deliberate, allowing food (e.g., meat, sausages) to be smoked for preservation, and the smoke helps get rid of insects, either casual visitors in search of human blood, or insects intending to live in the roof.
Lattice gable, and also note absence of a ceiling: https://i.pinimg.com/564x/02/de/fb/02defb2cafe1f0f62b3e0f1c6acfe671.jpg
Lattice gable: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MnongLonghouse.jpg
Lattice eaves: https://i.pinimg.com/564x/bd/bc/73/bdbc73571a15a54a74d39637767b5af7.jpg
The fire is usually an open fire on brick/stone/tile platform on the floor. In Vietnam, these are usually in the middle of the room. Windows could be opened for more ventilation, but the high roof space and roof ventilation mean that smoke from the fire will quickly rise up into the roof space.
