The growth of undoped and Nd3+-doped YVO4 crystals in isostatic oxygen atmosphere by the laser-heated pedestal growth technique was investigated. Absorption, photoluminescence, X-ray powder diffraction and Raman shift spectra were used to characterize the grown crystals. Differences in Y-V and oxygen stoichiometries were identified and discussed in terms of the starting materials processing, crystal growth dynamics and post-growth thermal treatment. The experimental results indicate that single crystal fibers with general optical and spectroscopic properties close to those of the best respective available bulk single crystals were grown.