It is situated on the bank of the Sozh River, and serves as the administrative center of Vyetka District.

[1] It was established in 1685 by the Old Believer Priest Group (a branch of the Russian Orthodox Church)[3] who were known as the Theodesians and who had migrated from Central Russia.

[4] The town's prosperity brought on the wrath of the Russian Empire and as result, it was gutted twice (1735 and 1764[2]) by the Tsarist army in the 18th century.

[5][6] Vyetka is located on the left bank of the Sozh River, in the area which was highly radioactive due to the nuclear fallout of the Chernobyl disaster that occurred on April 26, 1986.

The town is located in the Gomel Region on the right bank of the Sozh River and is surrounded by forest and marshy land.

This ensued a period of the proliferation of the artistic culture of "icon painting and manuscript book design" and Vetka wood carving.

However, this was not tolerated by Catherine the Great and the entire group of Old Believers were forcibly transported to Siberia thus putting an end to their presence in Vyetka.

[8] At the time, six rope plants and six windmills, four forges, four stone and 120 wooden shops were reported.

[9] During World War II, from August 18, 1941, till September 28, 1943, Axis forces occupied the town.

Economic survey of Vyetka gives a picture of all round socioeconomic development with 10.4% industrial production in 2007 with a trade turnover of 13.8%.

In addition, the well-known architectural monuments are the Senozhetsky's Palace in Khalch village and the Merchant Groshikov's house in Vyetka itself.

The museum has exhibits depicting the ancient artifacts, richly carved wooden entrance doors, manuscripts, traditional costumes and woven rushniki.