Riding lorries and buffalo-drawn carriages, people living within the "permanent danger zone" or six-kilometre radius fled to shelters.
Known for its "perfect" conical shape, Mayon started spewing lava last week.
But evacuations only began over the weekend as volcanic activity intensified, setting of alerts.
More people could be evacuated if Mayon's unrest intensifies in the coming days, said Teresito Bacolcol, the country's chief volcanologist.
