Selective-controlled structure and shape of CeVO4 nanocrystals were successfully synthesized via a hydrothermal method from electron microscopy (FESEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The influence of hydrothermal temperature, precursor solution concentration on the crystal and morphology of products were further studied. The results showed that the as-synthesized products exhibited pure single-crystal CeVO4 nanoparticles with tetragonal structure. The hydrothermal temperature and precursor solution concentration had important effects on the formation of CeVO4 nanoparticles. Furthermore, the growth mechanism of CeVO4 nanoparticles was explained with Ostwald ripening mechanism.