The photoluminescence (PL) properties of porous silicon microcavities (PSMs) in the visible range at room temperature are improved by doping the rare earth ytterbium (Yb) into PSMs prepared by the electrochemical etching method. It is observed that PSMs doped with the rare earth have an emission band around 630 nm. Compared with the single- layer porous silicon (PS) film, the PSMs doped with Yb have narrower and stronger PL spectrum.