In this paper, YVO4:Eu3+ nanoparticles have been synthesized and characterized. The crystalline structure and nanoparticles size have been determined. Aromatic linker molecules of benzoic acid, 3-nitro-4-chlorobenzoic acid and 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid have been attached to the surface replacing the native surface molecules in the as-grown sample. The attachment is confirmed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The aromatic treatments do not change the photo-physics of the nanoparticles, except in the case of the addition of hydroxyl groups by providing a non-radiative relaxation pathway that suppresses the luminescence from the emitting lanthanide ions. These studies show that these YVO4:Eu3+ nanoparticles are suitable for functionalization in nanoscale biomedical applications, where luminescence is important for the application. Moreover, since it has been shown previously that rare-earth doped vanadate crystals can be used to coat magnetic core for magneto-luminescence applications, we suggest that this study is an important step for those applications too