Quote Originally Posted by Paddy View Post
No.

To be up to means to be busy or occupied with (an activity). Source: www.dictionary.com

It does not mean the future. In addtion to that, the word lately implies recently, not tomorrow, but today, now.

Some of the answer you may hear for the question "What are you up to lately?"

- I've been busy with my ....(activities) tôi đã bận làm....

- I'm taking class at UCLA. Tôi đang học ở UCLA.

- I got rid of my girl friend. Tôi đá đít con bồ nhí rồi.

The first two answers may mean the activity will continue, but the last answer means end of the activity (having a girl friend).

But one usually does not answer : I plan to go back to VN next year.

Maybe like this: I got rid of my wife, so I plan to go back to VN looking for a new one. . But the main answer is "I got rid of my wife".
I got what you mean, but if that sentence with out the"lately" , is it still stated the same meaningful ?