  Vibrationally excited emission from the SiO and H2O molecules probes the
innermost circumstellar envelopes of oxygen-rich red giant and supergiant
stars. VY CMa is the most prolific known stellar emission source in these
molecules. Observations were made to search for rotational lines in the lowest
vibrationally excited state of H2O. The APEX telescope was used for
observations of H2O lines at frequencies around 300 GHz. Two vibrationally
excited H2O lines were detected, a third one could not be found. In one of the
lines we find evidence for weak maser action, similar to known (sub)millimeter
H2O lines. We find that the other line's intensity is consistent with thermal
excitation by the circumstellar infrared radiation field. Several SiO lines
were detected together with the H2O lines.
