Abstract: A solar collector is a device that converts solar energy into thermal energy.As the core components of a solar collector, the vacuum tube attracted intensive attention.In this review, we first introduce the working principle of the heat pipe vacuum tube collector and discuss the main technical parameters that affect the performance of the collector.Then we review the problems existing in the use of the heat pipe vacuum tube collector and the possible solutions.Thirdly, we discuss the applications of the heat pipe vacuum tube solar collector.We also review the methods to improve the performance of heat pipe vacuum tube solar collector from the aspects of collector's structure, working fluid in heat exchanger and performance parameters.