NaCaLa1-x(MoO4)3:Ho3+/Yb3+ ternary molybdates with proper doping concentrations of Ho3+ and Yb3+ (x = Ho3+ +Yb3+, Ho3+ = 0.05 and Yb3+ = 0.35, 0.40, 0.45 and 0.50) were successfully synthesized by microwave sol-gel method. Well-crystallized particles formed after heat-treatment at 900 oC for 16 h showed a fine and homogeneous morphology with particle sizes of 3-5 μm. Under excitation at 980 nm, the UC intensities of the doped samples exhibited strong yellow emissions based on the combination of strong emission bands at 520-nm and 630-nm emission bands in the green and red spectral regions, respectively. The optimal Yb3+:Ho3+ ratios were obtained at 9:1 and 10:1, as indicated by the compositiondependent quenching effect of the Ho3+ ions. The pump power dependence of the upconversion emission intensity and the Commission Internationale de L'Eclairage chromaticity coordinates of the phosphors were evaluated in detail.