Y2O3:Eu nanotubes were synthesized by a surfactant assembly mechanism. Under ultraviolet-light excitation, the nanotubes present luminescence properties different from that of Y2O3∶Eu nanoparticles. The peak position of the charge transfer band in excitation spectra varies with the monitoring emission peaks, while the emission spectra are dependent on the excitation wavelength. Laser selective spectroscopy was performed to distinguish the local symmetries of the Eu3+ ions in the nanotubes. The results of laser-selective excitation in dicate that the emission centers near the surface of nanotube walls exhibit inhomogeneously broadened spectra without spectral structures while the two sites (site B and site C) inside the nanotube walls present resolved spectral structures . It is concluded by the number and peak positions of the spectral lines that the sites Band Cpossess different site symmetries.