In this study, In(OH)₃ nanocrystals with three morphologies including rods, cubes and spheres were synthesized through a hydrothermal method. The morphology and crystalline were manipulated by controlling the growth speed and the addition of ascorbic acid. The InVO₄ nanocrystals were obtained by a process sacrificing In(OH)₃ templates. The phase transformation of rods and cubes generated size-controllable products, whereas that of nanospheres formed hollow micro-spheres. InVO₄ nanocrystals display a brilliant yellow emission band with the peak at 517 nm. Intriguingly, luminescent rare-earth Eu ions with red emission could be doped into InVO₄ nanocrystals during the phase transformation. Excitation and the emission spectra indicated an excitation energy transfer from the vanadate to the rare-earth ions.