We　report　here　a　facile　approach　to　tune　the　morphology　of　Fe-based　metal-organic　frameworks　(MOFs)　of　MIL-53(Fe),　in　which　acetic　acid　is　used　as　a　modulator　to　adjust　the　assembly　directions　of　the　MOFs.　As　a　result,　MIL-53(Fe)　with　controllable　morphologies　including　spindle　and　short　columnar　shapes　are　synthesized.　Following　the　pyrolysis　of　the　MOFs,　porous　Fe2O3　with　preserved　morphologies　are　obtained.　Impressively,　the　synthesized　Fe2O3　exhibits　enhanced　performance　in　catalytic　selective　oxidation　of　H2S　to　sulfur,　with　the　morphologies　showing　an　influence　on　the　catalytic　properties.　©　The　Royal　Society　of　Chemistry　2018.