We report optical planar waveguide formation in vanadate laser crystals $\mathrm{Yb}{\mathrm{VO}}_4$ by oxygen ion implantation at an energy of $3.0\mathrm{MeV}$ and doses from $5\times {10}^{13}$ to $2\times {10}^{15}\text{\hspace{0.17em} ions}/{\mathrm{cm}}^2$ at room temperature. Positive changes of the ordinary refractive indices occur in the implanted regions, which define a waveguide structure in the near surface. The relationship between refractive index changes and doses is presented. Waveguide modes were measured at wavelengths of 633 and $1539\mathrm{nm}$ , respectively. The magnified field pattern of the propagation light in the annealed waveguide was captured and studied by an end-coupling method. The refractive index profiles were reconstructed by the reflectivity calculation method.