A video endoscope system for fluorescence observation includes a video endoscope, an illumination probe, a power supply unit, a signal processing unit and a display. The video endoscope has a part configured to be inserted in a body cavity, an objective optical system that forms an image of a subject based on a visible component of the light emitted through the distal end of the insert part, and a cut filter that filters out from the light incident onto the objective optical system, a component of light having a predetermined wavelength. An image pickup device picks up an image of the subject formed by the objective optical system to output an image signal. A light emitting device is provided to emit excitation light having a wavelength so as to excite tissue of a living body to cause the tissue to emit self-fluorescence. The excitation light has the predetermined wavelength that is filtered by the cut filter. The light emitting device is configured to emit light associated with the predetermined wavelength. The cut filter filters out excitation light and enables self-fluorescence light to be incident onto the image pickup device.