A laser-diode end-pumped Nd:YVO4 crystal laser is demonstrated to emit the first-order Laguerre-Gaussian (LG01) mode with 502-mW laser power and 22% slope efficiency. The LG01-mode is lased only when the pumping area locates in the central part of the laser crystal's front surface, and thereafter the symmetrical LG01-HG01-TEM00 mode transition happens when laser crystal is moved laterally inside several-tens-micron area. The possible mechanism responsible for the phenomenon of symmetrical mode transition is also discussed.