Let’s Pho Vietnamese Kitchen in Puerto Vallarta Serves Up Authentic Vietnamese Cuisine in Puerto Vallarta’s Zona Romantica
Award Winning Chef and Owner Charlie Huynh was Born in Vietnam and has opened Let’s Pho Restaurants in Houston, Texas, Puerto Vallarta and now in Guadalajara
The Taco Fair is Coming to Puerto Vallarta Sunday April 6th at the Food Park
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Hello fellow travelers, welcome to this episode of the Puerto Vallarta Travel show. I am your host Barry Kessler, and I am just so happy to be introducing you to my favorite vacation destination, in fact my new home, and maybe even yours too and that’s Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
That music you were just listening to is performed by Alberto Perez, the owner of the La Palapa Group of Restaurants. Those are The Le Bistro Jazz Café, riverside on The Isla Cuale, and the La Palapa, Puerto Vallarta’s Oldest Restaurant on the famous
Los Muertos Beach, and The El Dorado Restaurant and Beach Club right next door so you can enjoy that fantastic view of the Los Muertos Pier all lit up at night in beautiful colors, or during the day in its grand splendor for breakfast, lunch or dinner,
seated with your toes in the sand right at the water’s edge. Or riverside at Le Bistro, it’s so romantic, it’s so, Puerto Vallarta my friends.
This week we are going to meet a chef and an entrepreneur, a very talented man. His name is Charlie Huynh. Charlie is the creator and owner of Let’s Pho, Vietnamese Kitchen located in Zona Romantica. Charlie has a very interesting story; you’ll love
Contact information for Let’s Pho Vietnamese Kitchen
- Address: Lázaro Cárdenas 179, Zona Romántica
48380 Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco - Phone: 52 322 365 1654
- Website: https://letsphopv.com/es/home/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/letsphopv/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letsphopv/
- Trip Advisor: https://www.tripadvisor.com.mx/Restaurant_Review-g150793-d25045848-Reviews-Let_s_Pho-Puerto_Vallarta.html
- Alvin Texas Let’s Pho Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/letsphohouston/
- Let’s Pho Vietnamese Kitchen Guadalajara: https://letsphogdl.com/home/
him and his restaurant. We are going to chat with our friend Edgar Rivas about this afternoon’s Taco Fair out at the Food Park across from the Sunscape Resort. Edgar is always full of information. I also had a chance to talk with Raul Soto down at the Hotel Mayto Club Paradise where there are some very cool improvements at their restaurant and their hotel. We have Vallarta news and more so let’s see what’s happening this week in Puerto Vallarta, the 6th of April, 2025.
Today, this very day April 6th, at 2 in the afternoon is the Feria Del Taco, so if you are in town it’s going to be the place to be. I
asked my friend Edgar Rivas if he would come by my apartment last week to tell us all about it. So here he is, Edgar Rivas with the 2025 edition of the Feria del Taco. The Taco Fair, in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
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Información for Feria del Taco Puerto Vallarta 2025
- Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/FeriaTacoPV
Puerto Vallarta Getting 76 New Buses
Vallarta is adding to her fleet of buses, From the Banderas News…
Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico – Puerto Vallarta’s public transportation system is set for a major boost as 76 new buses are scheduled to arrive in April. The announcement was made by Jalisco Transportation Secretary Diego Monraz during his visit to the city on Friday, March 21, 2025.
These new units will enhance the UnibusPV fleet, the company responsible for public transportation in the city under a contract with the Jalisco government. The buses, which have been awaiting delivery in Manzanillo for three weeks, were delayed due to fiscal and credit complications with the manufacturer, Fotón. However, Monraz assured that these issues have been resolved, and the vehicles will soon be on their way to Puerto Vallarta.
Upon arrival, the buses will undergo branding and necessary upgrades, including air conditioning, before being fully integrated into the city’s transportation network. The addition of these vehicles aims to improve service quality and reduce wait times for passengers.
Currently, Puerto Vallarta operates with 200 public transport buses, 50 of which are relatively new. With the arrival of this new batch, the total fleet will expand to 276, increasing coverage and efficiency across all routes.
Looking ahead, this development represents just the initial phase of a broader restructuring of the city’s transportation system. The anticipated arrival of 38 articulated electric buses from China later this year will position Puerto Vallarta as a leader in national urban mobility.
Secretary Monraz discussed the progression of the comprehensive public transportation modernization plan, which includes the deployment of the 38 electric buses along Francisco Medina Ascencio Avenue, commencing in October. The articulated buses will operate from the University Center of the Coast to the city center, a project supported by an investment exceeding 867 million pesos.
To further support the community, Monraz reaffirmed that the My Passage student discount program, along with discounts for senior citizens, will continue. He also confirmed that the standard fare will remain at 10 pesos, ensuring accessibility for all passengers.
With these advancements, Puerto Vallarta is taking a significant step toward a more efficient, modern, and environmentally friendly transportation system.
And I have a link to that article from the Banderas News in the show notes.
Please Be Careful of Cars and Buses Crossing the Street In Puerto Vallarta
Now speaking about busses in Puerto Vallarta, there was a Canadian resident who a couple of months back, was run over by a Vallarta public bus, and subsequently died from his injuries. And ever since, Debbie and I religiously avoid walking across certain crosswalks. He was hit at the intersection of Insurgentes and Lazaro Cardenas. He was in the crosswalk, thinking he had the right of way, which, if he were in Canada, he would have been right, but not here, the bus which was heading up Lazaro Cardenas left the bus stop on the corner and made a left hand turn, and didn’t even see Emory, who was pretty drunk at the time and not a spring chicken by the way, I think he was in his mid-80’s, and the bus just didn’t see him, and ran right over him. Rolled right over him.
When the driver realized what he’d done, he stopped and dropped off all his passengers and took the bus to the yard, and then, he just disappeared. The victim, Emory, was in a Vallarta hospital for a couple of weeks, they were looking for blood doners for him for surgery, I’ll get back to the blood donating thing later. Then they ended up sending him back to Canada where he died from his injuries.
And over the last 6 months of living here, we’ve have had many opportunities to watch this particular intersection because it’s right below where my favorite margarita place is, Restaurant San Lucas. In fact, our favorite waiter, Daniel, told us that he saw the result of the accident because from that rooftop restaurant you are looking right down on that intersection. So, I’ve been
witnessing buses and cars just make left hand turns from Lazaro Cardenas onto Insurgentes, and they just go merrily along, driving through the occupied crosswalk, like all the time. So, we simply don’t use that crosswalk anymore. And to be perfectly honest, if you do enough walking in this town, you will be able to identify half a dozen of these situations where buses, in particular just make that left hand turn onto a one-way street especially and make no notice of the pedestrians. So, I recommend you keep your eyes open and do your best to avoid these particular crosswalks.
I have a picture of the intersection in the show notes.
Speaking of giving blood here. I’m on a bunch of the local Facebook groups in Puerto Vallarta and it seems like every other day they have a post about someone needing a certain type of blood. Now I’m a universal donor. I have O Positive CMV Negative. So, they like my blood for premature babies. And over the years I’ve donated gallons of blood to the Red Cross. But I’ve now reached the last months of eligibility to give blood. When I hit 66 years old, they say my blood is too geezer like I suppose. And on top of that, they want you to be alcohol free for at least three days before you can give, and really, who can do that? I mean it’s nearly impossible under short notice. Right?
Hotel Mayto Expands Their Restaurant, Hotel Towers and Heats Their Pool
A month back we made a quick daytrip to Mayto. Our Canadian buddies Debbie and Ray who live in Pitillal were spending a few days down in Mayto with their kids who were visiting paradise from the cold bitter Alberta Canadian winter. And we were
messaging back and forth, and they mentioned that their son had left his cellphone back at the house in Pitillal, and how bummed he was. Well, always looking for adventure I told them that we could get into their house, we have a set of their keys and I offered to bring the phone down if they wanted. And they said yes. So, we picked up his phone that evening, and in the morning, we started off for Mayto.
If you get a decent start to the day, you can spend 4 or 5 hours in Mayto before heading back to El Tuito by cab and then back to Vallarta by bus, or you can always take your time and spend the night at the Hotel Mayto Club Paradise for about $1,800 pesos a night or around $85 US.
The first step of course is to take the El Tuito bus from the bus stop located on Aguacate at the corner of Aguacate and Basillio Badillo. I think the rate is 70 pesos, about $2 US, from that bus stop in Vallarta to the town of El Tuito. The ride will take approximately one hour and fifteen minutes. Now you can take the bus all the way to the city center. The town square where the government buildings are located, near the church, where you can get some pesos at the ATM, and stock up on goodies or do a little shopping or get a quick breakfast before finding a taxi to take you to Mayto. But what we like to do on travel days like this, is we stop at Eulos Bakery on Basilio Badillo, you know, the place where Jose the Muffin Man buys his muffins, and we pick up a few turnovers like those cheese ham and jalapeno ones, and we then continue up Basilio to the stop at Aguacate where we can eat them on the bus or in the cab from Tuito to Mayto. Just to keep the rhythm going. Always moving towards the target. Remember, you want as much time at the beach in Mayto, so every minute counts. But it is important to bring cash to Mayto. They have no ATM’s. Yet.
So, what I’m getting at is you don’t have to go all the way into the town center to catch as cab to Mayto. In fact, you can get off the bus at the entrance to town, and there you will almost always find a couple of cabs sitting there, B.S.-ing eating or having a coffee at one of those taquerias out on the 200. So, if you already have cash, and food, it’s probably best to just get off the bus just as you enter town and negotiate with a cab driver right there. Now the going rate from El Tuito to Mayto is 600 pesos, or about $30 US for that 50-minute ride down the hill. And when you are negotiating your ride down, make sure to negotiate your ride back. Again, it will cost you another 600 pesos for that ride. And you want to make sure you get back to El Tuito 5ish so you can catch the second to the last bus back to Vallarta that comes at 6. So, aim to leave Mayto no later than 4. The last bus from Tuito to Vallarta doesn’t come till 9, so it’s a long wait, but if you miss that 6 o’clock bus, you can wait on the 200 for just about any bus coming north, like the Tomatlan Bus. Very comfortable and the same price. It will stop at the bus stop to pick you up. And you won’t be alone waiting for that bus. There will be other stragglers.
Personally, we like to have at least a little time to pick up some raicilla and cheese at our favorite raiciaria which is very close to the highway in Tuito, before we hop on that last bus or the bus coming from Tomatlan to Vallarta.
So that’s how you get to Vallarta to Mayto quick, cheap and easy. Total price round trip, about $75.00 US, split between however many you have in your party. Those cabs can carry 3 comfortably and 4 with a little squeeze. Especially if you are all carrying luggage. But if you leave Vallarta by 9, you can be on the beach in Mayto by noon.
When we got to Mayto, we reunited Ray and Deb’s son with his phone. They were staying at the Hotelito El Rinconcito, but it was a breezy day, so we hightailed it next door to the Hotel Mayto because at the Hotel Mayto they have a few things that they don’t have at the Rinconcito. Shelter from the wind, and they accept credit cards at their bar and restaurant. And lo and behold, while I was there, We ran into my friend Raul Soto, who we’ve had on the show. Raul’s dad built the Hotel. And I asked Raul if he could give us an update on the goings on at the Hotel Mayto Club Paradise, and he agreed. So, let’s go to the restaurant, protected from the winds that seem to blow all the time down in Mayto, and let’s have a chat with friend of the show Raul Soto, from the Hotel Mayto Club Paradise, in Cabo Corrientes, Mexico.
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Thank you very much Raul.
I have links, photos and maps for the Hotel Mayto Club Paradise, in the show notes.
Contact Information for Hotel Mayto Club Paradise
- Website: https://www.mayto.mx
- Contact: https://www.mayto.mx/contacto
- WhatsApp: 322 218 5644
- Email: hotelmayto@gmail.com
Let’s Pho PV Vietnamese Kitchen in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Next, I want to introduce you to a very cool guy.
A few months back, if you remember, I had Lisa and Billy from RISE on the show. Refugio Infantil Santa Esperanza, one of our favorite orphanages in Vallarta, was having their So You Think You Can Rise event. And if you remember, Lisa mentioned that as a special perk to the sponsors of the event they were going to have the chance to be featured on the podcast, like I’ve done now for several years now, as frequent listeners already know. And over the years, of interviewing these sponsors I’ve found they all have something in common. They have room in their hearts, and big ideas. They are quite often big surprises and some of my best interviews and Charlie Huynh is no exception.
Let’s Pho PV is a beautiful restaurant with Vietnamese themed murals painted on the walls. Comfortable seating with lots of room. Not too crowded. A lovely bar in the back of the restaurant invites you to enjoy little intimate moments with your loved
one or friends. Outside the restaurant tables are set out on the sidewalk where people watching while you eat is all the rage. It’s just a lovely and comfortable spot in the heart of the City.
So, let’s go to Lázaro Cárdenas 179 in Zona Romantica just a few steps from the famous Malecon and across the street from Tile Park, Parque Lazaro Cardenas, and let’s meet Charlie Huynh, Let’s Pho PV, in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
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Thank you very much Charlie. Wow. What a busy man. And as nice as he sounded. Just sweet, genuine, and he loves his staff at the restaurant, and they really do love him. And congratulations Charlie, on your latest award, Favorite Chef in Puerto Vallarta. I can see why amigo. Great story and lovely restaurant. I have all the links and maps in the show notes where you’ll find food porn and more at www.puertovallartatravelshow.com.
Contact information for Let’s Pho Vietnamese Kitchen
- Address: Lázaro Cárdenas 179, Zona Romántica
48380 Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco - Phone: 52 322 365 1654
- Website: https://letsphopv.com/es/home/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/letsphopv/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/letsphopv/
- Trip Advisor: https://www.tripadvisor.com.mx/Restaurant_Review-g150793-d25045848-Reviews-Let_s_Pho-Puerto_Vallarta.html
- Alvin Texas Let’s Pho Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/letsphohouston/
- Let’s Pho Vietnamese Kitchen Guadalajara: https://letsphogdl.com/home/
Ok, that should do it for this week, next week, stay tuned for more on the ground reports from Puerto Vallarta Mexico, with travel tips, great restaurant and excursion ideas and more. Until then, remember, this is an interactive show where I depend on your questions and suggestions about all things Puerto Vallarta. If you think of something I should be talking about, please reach out to me by clicking on the Contact us tab and sending us your message.
And remember, if you are considering booking any type of tour while you are in Puerto Vallarta, you must go to Vallartainfo.com, JR’s website and reserve your tour through him, right from his website. Remember the value for value proposition. His
experience and on the ground knowledge of everything Puerto Vallarta in exchange for your making a purchase of a tour that you would do anyway, you’re just doing it through him as a way of saying thank you. It costs no more than if you were to use
someone else so do it. Really. And when you do take one of these tours, email me about your experiences. Maybe you can come on board and share with others what you liked or didn’t like about the tour. Again, contact me by clicking on the Contact us tab and sending off a message. Don’t forget his maps, his DIY tours and I have links to all of those in the show notes.
And once again, if you like this podcast, please take the time and subscribe and follow share with a lover of Puerto Vallarta or give me a good review wherever or however you happen to be listening. That way we can get the word out to more and more people about the magic of this place. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Remember I made it easy for you to do just that with each episode I create. But if you haven’t been to my website, you really need to have a look there. I have the links to the places we talk about, interesting pictures and the more all right there in my blogposts and show-notes for each episode of the show so check them out for sure if you haven’t already all-right? All right.
Thanks to Edgar Rivas once again for talking about tacos. If you are in town, make sure to stop by the Faria del Taco over at the Food Park Across from the Sunscape Resort. Lots of parking and easy to reach by bus, taxi or Uber from everywhere in Vallarta. I have maps and info in the show notes. Remember it’s Sunday April 6th . Begins at 2 and ends at 11. And thanks to Raul Soto from the Hotel Mayto. Make sure to check out all their new improvements. The restaurant is so good.
And thanks so much to Charlie Huynh of Let’s Pho PV. What an interesting guy. He really loves what he does. Creating really delicious authentic Vietnamese food right in Puerto Vallarta. The food, the lovely atmosphere, the professional staff providing top-notch service. You must give Let’s Pho PV a try. Also remember there’s a Let’s Pho in Guadalajara and 2 in Houston Texas. I’ll link all of those in the show notes at www.puertovallartatravelshow.com.
And thanks to all of you for listening all the way through this episode of the Puerto Vallarta Travel Show. This is Barry Kessler signing off with a wish for you all to slow down, be kind and live the Vallarta lifestyle. Nos Vemos amigos.
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