Spherical　bismuth　vanadate　particles　are　self-assembled　from　aqueous　Bi(NO3)3　and　NH4VO3　solutions　by　adjusting　pH　and　tuning　the　amount　of　surfactant　sodium　dodecyl　sulfate　(SDS)　via　facile　hydrothermal　method.　The　BiVO4　samples　were　characterized　by　X-ray　diffraction　(XRD)　and　the　peaks　suited　well　with　the　pure　phase　monoclinic　scheelite　BiVO4.　Field　emission　scanning　electron　microscopy　(SEM)　showed　the　average　size　of　the　spherical　particles　was　5　μm　and　the　assembling　stages　in　the　hydrothermal　synthesis　process　were　recorded.　Transmission　electron　microscopy　(TEM)　and　selected　area　electron　diffraction　(SAED)　revealed　the　nanoparticles　were　single　crystal.　FT-IR　spectroscopy　test　results　demonstrated　there　was　no　SDS　left　in　the　samples.　The　mechanism　of　the　self-assembling　has　also　been　proposed.　©　2009　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.