The single crystals of lanthanum metaphosphate MLa(PO 3) 4 (M=Na, Ag) have been synthesized and studied by a combination of X-ray crystal diffraction and vibrational spectroscopy. The sodium and silver compounds crystallize in the same monoclinic P2 1 /n space group (factor group) with the following respective unit cell dimensions: a=7.255(2), b=13.186(3), , β=90.40(2)°, , Z=4 and a=7.300(5), b=13.211(9), , β=90.47(4)°, , Z=4. This threedimensional framework is built of twisted zigzag chains running along a direction and made up of PO 4 tetrahedra sharing two corners, connected to the LaO 8 and NaO 7 or AgO 7 polyhedra by common oxygen atoms to the chains. The infrared and Raman vibrational spectra have been investigated. A group factor analysis leads to the determination of internal modes of (PO 3) − anion in the phosphate chain.