Sm3+ activated NaCdVO4 phosphors were prepared by the simple solid-state reaction method. X-ray diffraction, dispersive energy (EDS), scanning electron microscope (SEM), infrared as well as photoluminescence (PL) techniques were used to characterize obtained samples. Irregular and non-uniform structures were observed by SEM. EDS spectra confirmed the presence of Na, Cd, V, O and Sm elements in each sample. Uuder 405nm excitation, the NaCd1 − xVO4: xSm (x = 0.01, 0.03 and 0.05) exhibits a bright red emission consisting mainly of four wavelength peaks at 556, 593, 650 and 700 nm. The highest emission intensity was found with a composition of x = 0.05. The analysis of PL spectra suggest that studied samples can be used as a red emitting phosphors candidates for fabrication of white LEDs. The CIE chromaticity coordinates of prepared samples were close to the blue-emitting phosphors for NaCdVO4 and red-emitting ones for NaCd0.99Sm0.01VO4, NaCd0.97Sm0.03VO4, and NaCd0.95Sm0.05VO4. The band gap energies of phosphors were calculated from reflectance data using K-M function.