The Portuguese youngster sparked a first-half goal glut against a dismal Charlton team.
Victory not only revived Bolton's chances of finishing the season with a UEFA Cup spot, but Sam Allardyce won handsomely in the one-upmanship stakes with rival England managerial candidate Alan Curbishley.
Certainly Allardyce's decision to leave leading scorers Kevin Nolan and Stelios on the bench proved a masterstroke.
The gamble could easily have backfired and he later admitted: "It took a long time and wasn't easy. I had a long discussion with the rest of the staff but happily it paid off."
Bolton went into the game without a goal in their four previous outings. But the drought was over after just 14 minutes thanks to the promising, but sometimes erratic, Vaz Te.
His first Premiership goal was a beauty, as he climbed above the static visiting defenders to head home a Hidetoshi Nakata cross.
Moments later he combined superbly with Kevin Davies but his cross from the byline just evaded an onrushing team-mate.
Charlton struggled woefully to repel the home attacks and it was no surprise when Bolton doubled their advantage in the 21st minute.
Ivan Campo's free-kick was headed against the post by Jared Borgetti and in the scramble for the rebound Davies poached his seventh of the season.
Wanderers goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen was a virtual spectator but must have been admiring Bolton's finishing for a change, after Davies turned provider in the 31st minute.
His clever flick freed Borgetti, who just stayed onside. The Mexican then checked inside Chris Perry before firing home from 10 yards.
Curbishley had to make changes for the second half and he did just that, dragging off Darren Ambrose and Dennis Rommedahl for Jay Bothroyd and Jonathan Fortune.
Fortune certainly helped shore up the defence, although Allardyce believed his team should have had a penalty for a foul by the Charlton player on Davies.
Darren Bent was starved of service and rarely threatened the Bolton goal, and a long-range effort after 69 minutes passed harmlessly by an upright.
In the 73rd minute Charlton, beaten 1-0 at The Valley by Bolton earlier in the season, were given an unlikely lifeline.
Jaaskelainen came rushing off his line to punch away a Matt Holland free-kick. Unfortunately for the Finn he only succeeded in punching the back of Bothroyd's head, leaving the referee no option but to award a spot-kick. Bent calmly tucked home the penalty.
Vaz Te went off to a great ovation 10 minutes from time, leaving Borgetti to complete his first 90 minutes in the Premiership and Davies to add another goal.
Visiting goalkeeper Thomas Myhre was at fault as he failed to collect Jay-Jay Okocha's long throw and Davies poked home the loose ball after the keeper's unsuccessful juggling act.