The preliminary results of the survey were announced after votes were taken among 400 sites around the world. The voting ended at exactly 11:11pm, 11/11/2011. The Swiss Foundation, who conducted the poll, said that they would confirm the list early next year, and that there may be some changes from the preliminary list. Ha Long Bay, was recognised by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage site on December 17 1994, and was placed among the 28 final candidates for the Swiss Foundation's project on September 27 of this year.