We describe the current status of the diffractive vector meson production calculations within the k_t-factorization approach. Since the amplitude of the vector meson production off a proton is expressed via the differential gluon structure function (DGSF), we take a closer look at the latter and present results of our new improved determination of the DGSF from the structure function F_2p. Having determined the differential glue, we proceed to the k_t-factorization results for the production of various vector mesons. We argue that the properties of the vector meson production can reveal the internal spin-angular and radial structure of the vector meson.