# Đang: is doing in Vietnamese (A1)

> Đang before a verb says something is going on right now: Em đang nấu cơm. I'm cooking.

Source: https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/dang-ongoing/ · Updated 2026-11-10

**is doing**

Pattern: `[person] + đang + [verb or adjective]`

Level: A1 (our estimate) · Register: everyday

Typed without accents: dang

Variants:

- vẫn đang
- đang còn

*Đang* before a verb says something is going on right now: *Em đang nấu cơm.* I'm cooking. It's close to English "-ing", but used less: when the situation makes it obvious, people often leave it out.

It also works before an adjective, for a state you're in at the moment: *Chị đang bận.* I'm busy right now. *Vẫn đang* means "still": *Tôi vẫn đang chờ.* I'm still waiting.

*Đang* isn't only for now. It describes something in progress at any moment you name, often with *lúc* (when, at the time): *Lúc anh gọi, em đang tắm.* When you called, I was in the shower. That moment can be in the future too: *Giờ này mai tôi đang ngồi trên xe đi Đà Lạt.* This time tomorrow I'll be on the bus to Đà Lạt.

The trap is English "I'm going to Đà Lạt tomorrow". That "-ing" is a plan, not something in progress, and *đang* can't carry it. For a plan, the time word is enough: *Mai tôi đi Đà Lạt.* Add *sẽ* if you want to make the future clear. For something already done, use *đã*.

You'll ask *Anh đang làm gì vậy?* (What are you doing?) all the time. In Hà Nội it ends in *thế* instead: *Anh đang làm gì thế?*

## A common mistake

✗ Mai tôi đang đi Đà Lạt.

✓ Mai tôi đi Đà Lạt.

English uses "I'm going" for plans, but *đang* only means "in the middle of it". For a plan, the time word is enough, or add *sẽ*.

## Examples

- Saigon: Anh đang làm gì vậy? | Hà Nội: Anh đang làm gì thế? — What are you doing?
- Em đang nấu cơm. — I'm cooking.
- Lúc anh gọi, em đang tắm. — When you called, I was in the shower.
- Saigon: Chị đang bận, chút nữa chị gọi lại nha. | Hà Nội: Chị đang bận, lát nữa chị gọi lại nhé. — I'm busy right now, I'll call you back in a bit.
- Mai tôi đi Đà Lạt. — I'm going to Đà Lạt tomorrow.

## Words in this pattern

- [đang](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/words/dang-in-progress/#lx_dang): in progress

## Compare

- [Saying it already happened: đã](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/da-past/): did / has done
- [Saying it will happen: sẽ](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/se-future/): will

Previous in Time and when things happen: [Saying it already happened: đã](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/da-past/)
Next in Time and when things happen: [Saying it will happen: sẽ](https://vietnamesebuddy.com/grammar/se-future/)

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